10 Most valuable U.S. coins
The 10 Most Expensive Coins : U.S.
I find it fascinating learning how much a coin sold for, what makes it so valuable? Is it the year? An error? What happened in that year that might make it worth so much? In this article we’re going to delve just a little bit into 10 of the highest-selling coins that earned some big bucks.
10. 1817/4 Capped Bust Half Dollar
Highest price ever sold for: 356,600.00
Designed by: John Reich
The year 1817 saw James Monroe inaugurated as the 5th President of the United States, and the New York stock exchange was founded in the same year.
The Capped Bust Half Dollar was designed by John Reich, and a few coins were overdated, meaning they reused an older year and put the new number over it.
There are less than 10 produced with a 7 over 4 overdate known to exist. These are the ones that fetch a big price. While the 1817 Capped Bust Half Dollar in mint condition is worth about 30,000.00, In 2006 an 1817/4 coin sold for 356,600.00.
9. 1901 Morgan Silver Dollar
Highest price ever sold for: $587,500.00
Designed by: George T. Morgan
1901 had some interesting things happening, It was the turn of the century. A new age.
Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in to the Presidency after William McKinley died from being shot. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid rob a train in Montana, and the Cadillac Motor company is founded. This year has some history!
In the same year, Just 813 Morgan Silver Dollar proof coins, and many more standard coins were released from the Philadelphia Mint. The Morgan Silver Dollar was designed by George T. Morgan, and modeled after Anna Willess Williams, a teacher and philosophical writer from Philadelphia. Morgan wanted to represent the average American, rather than the popular Greek style figures depicted on coins.
In 2015, an MS66 grade of this coin sold for 587,500.00!
8. 1893 S Morgan Silver Dollar
Highest price ever sold for: $735,000.00
Designed by: George T. Morgan
1893.
Grover Cleveland’s just been inaugurated as the 24th president of the United States. The stock market plummets. New Zealand becomes the first country to grant women the right to vote. Henry Ford creates his first petrol/gasoline fueled engine.
Sounds like a bit of a wild year right?
Well in the same year, about 100,000 Morgan Silver Dollars were minted in San Francisco. With most of those ending up melted back down, there aren’t too many of these floating around anymore. In May of 2018 an 1893 S Silver Dollar sold for 735,000.00! While most of them aren’t going to be of that quality, they do still fetch a decent price.
7. 1838 O Capped Bust Half Dollar
Highest price ever sold for: 763,750.00
Designed by: Christian Gobrecht
In 1838, The New Orleans mint had just opened, and the very first public demonstration of the Telegraph was shown! Can you imagine where we’d be if we hadn’t had the telegraph?
It’s said these were some of the first coins struck at the New Orleans mint. Definitely one of the more uncommon coins out there, with only 20 produced due to equipment malfunctions, this coin is highly sought after.
It’s speculated that it may have actually been produced in 1839 to test some machinery, but that doesn’t bring its value down! In 2014 one of these coins sold for 763,750!
6. 1933 Indian Head Gold Eagle
Highest price ever sold for: 822,500.00
Designed by: Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Augustus Saint-Gaudens was commissioned by Theodore Roosevelt to redesign the coinage for the 20th century. The Indian Head Gold Eagle was originally the design for the one cent piece, but Roosevelt liked it so much he had them use it for the $10 Gold Eagle.
The Indian Head Gold Eagle was minted in the years 1920, 1926, 1930, 1932, and the last of them were issued in 1933. While work began on the Golden Gate Bridge, and John Dillinger robbed his first bank, Roosevelt was signing executive order 6102. Effectively banning gold ownership across the United States.
This year also saw the first female director of the U.S. Mint Nellie T Ross. It’s estimated about 40 of these coins were released into circulation before the rest were all melted down. 37 are known to exist and have been certified. In 2015 one sold for 822,500.00.
5. 1870 S Seated Liberty Dollar
Highest price ever sold for: 1,092,500.00
Designed by: Christian Gobrecht
For the first time in almost a decade, the Liberty Seated Dollar was minted at more than one location. There is no record indicating that 1870 dated obverse dies were sent to the San Francisco Mint, but the coins do exist.
It’s speculated that they may have been presentation pieces, meant to be in a cornerstone or time capsule. San Francisco struck an unspecified number of coins, but there are 12 known to exist. 2 of those have been graded MS62, with the finest known piece selling for 1,092,500.00 in 2003.
4. 1797 Draped Bust Half Dollar
Highest price ever sold for: $1,527,500.00
Designed by: Robert Scot and John Eckstein
Only an estimated 200 of these coins remain today. Which makes them a highly sought after addition by collectors.
In the same year these coins were minted, John Adams had just been inaugurated, and The USS Constitution (Also known as Old Ironsides) was launched in Boston Harbor. (I was fascinated to learn that Old Ironsides is still afloat today! Over 200 years old!)
This was to be the last of the Half Dollars minted in the 18th century. Silver Half Dollars wouldn’t be minted again until 1801, four years later!
The highest sale price for this coin was in 2015, for a price of 1,527,500.00!
3. 1927 D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle
Highest price ever sold for: 2,990,000.00
Designed by: Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Commonly said to be the most beautiful U.S. coin ever produced, designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, he was the first man to design a coin while not being an employee of the U.S. Mint. In 1907 about 2 dozen ultra high-relief coins were struck, one of these sold in 2005 for 2,990,00.00.
The original design had roman numerals for the date, no “In God We Trust” motto, as Roosevelt felt that including religion on money was blasphemy.
There were issues with the high relief however, it took 9 strikes to complete the coin which was simply not feasible to mass produce. In 1907 Chief engraver Charles E. Barber also made some changes to the coins. He adapted the design for a lower relief, and changed the Roman numerals to Arabic numerals.
Unfortunately many of these coins were returned to the Mint and melted down. The lower relief coins have still fetched a hefty price in the past however, with one being sold in January 2020 for 2,160,00.00.
If you want to know more about Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, check out this article on
The Most Beautiful Coin Ever Produced
2. 1913 Liberty Head V Nickel
Highest price ever sold for: 5,000,000.00
Designed by: Charles Barber
Only 5 of these coins are known to exist. 2 of which are currently in museums, with the other 3 being in private collections. Originally owned by a Mint employee named Samuel Brown, it’s speculated that they were produced by the medal department for Cabinet purposes, or as trial pieces in late 1912 to test the next year’s equipment. It’s also very likely he struck the unauthorized coins himself.
In 1919 he placed an advertisement in an issue of The Numismatic, stating he would pay $500 for each of the coins found. He then displayed them at the American Numismatic Association’s annual convention in 1920 and generated a bit of buzz about them. 2 of the coins have proof surfaces, and the other 3 are standard striking.
The Olsen coin also made an appearance on Hawaii Five-O in the episode titled “The $100,000 nickel”. Generating even more buzz and desire to own the coin, driving auction prices up.
The nicest example, titled “The Eliasberg Coin” sold for 5,000,000.00 to a private unnamed collector in 2007.
1. 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar
Highest price ever sold for: 10,016,875.00
Designed by: Robert Scot
We’ve reached the end, the coin that has fetched the largest payday of any coin.
And not for no reason!
This beautiful coin was the very first dollar coin issued by the U.S. government. There had been previous attempts made by individual states, but this was the first to be standardized across the nation.
Designed by Robert Scot, Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint. Only 1,758 were produced.
Many of the coins were unevenly weighted due to them being struck on a machine that was not meant to strike coins so large.
In 2013 the finest example ever seen, speculated to be one of the very first of the coins struck sold for $10,016,875.00! The highest selling price of any coin in history!
Looking for a spot to sell coins online?
While some of these coins may not be the rarest, and there are definitely more coins out there that have sold for a pretty penny, we hope you enjoyed this little read through of some of the highest selling coins in U.S. history.
Hopefully you find something great in your collection, and if you do, let us know in the comments!
If you found some rare coins and you're looking for a spot to sell your coins online, we recommend CoinsForSale.com. It's free to list an unlimited number of coins, and only a 5% fee once your coin sells.
