Most old coins aren’t going to make you rich, but every so often, one comes along that collectors are willing to spend an unbelievable amount of money to own. Rarity, history, minting mistakes, and condition can turn what looks like an ordinary piece of metal into a multimillion-dollar collectible.
Some of the rarest coins ever auctioned have sold for more than luxury homes, including one that fetched nearly $19 million. Here are 10 remarkable examples and what they have reportedly sold for.
1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle — $18.9 Million
At the top of the list is the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, which sold for an astonishing $18.9 million. Its extreme rarity and unusual history have made it one of the most famous and valuable American coins ever sold.
1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar — $10 Million
The 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar is an important piece of early American coinage and is highly prized by serious collectors. One example sold for $10 million, putting this early $1 coin firmly among the most expensive coins ever auctioned.
1787 Brasher Doubloon — $9.4 Million
The Brasher Doubloon dates to 1787 and is one of those coins most people will probably never encounter outside a major collection or auction. A rare “Breast Punch” example reportedly sold for $9.4 million.
1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar — $7.6 Million
Despite the 1804 date stamped on the coin, the Draped Bust Silver Dollar has a complicated history that has only added to its appeal among collectors. One of these exceptionally rare dollars has sold for approximately $7.6 million.
1913 Liberty Head Nickel — $4.2 Million
It’s hard to imagine a five-cent coin commanding millions of dollars, but the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel is anything but ordinary. One sold for around $4.2 million, proving that a coin’s face value has very little to do with what collectors might ultimately pay for it.
1885 Trade Dollar — $3.9 Million
The 1885 Trade Dollar is an exceptionally rare issue that has become highly desirable among collectors of American coins. One example reportedly reached approximately $3.9 million at auction.
1792 Silver Center Cent — $2.5 Million
A penny doesn’t sound particularly exciting until you’re talking about something as rare as the 1792 Silver Cent. One of these unusual early American coins has sold for about $2.5 million.
1943 Lincoln Head Copper Penny — $1.7 Million
The 1943 copper penny is famous because pennies that year were generally made from steel, as copper was needed for the war effort. A small number of copper examples are known, and one reportedly sold for approximately $1.7 million.
1894-S Barber Dime — $1.5 Million
Ten cents can become considerably more valuable when you’re dealing with an exceptionally scarce coin. The 1894-S Barber dime is one of the great rarities of American coin collecting, with an example selling for around $1.5 million.
1343 Edward III Florin — Estimated at $6.4 Million
The oldest coin on this list isn’t American at all: the Edward III Florin dates back to medieval England. An example previously sold for about $850,000 but has since been estimated at approximately $6.4 million.
