9 Rare Coins Priced Over $900,000 Every Serious Collector Wants

Rare coin collecting is at the crossroads of history, artistry, and investment. These pieces represent historical periods, economic and social changes, and transformations within cultures. The high-value coin market has really grown. For instance, some specimens sold at prices comparable to the works of the greatest masterpieces.

The monetary value alone cannot be enough for people to desire these coins. Each coin carries with it characteristics that render them priceless to collectors:

• Most of the available coins are few, while they mark historic events about the country
• Art value: intricate designs and beautiful craftsmanship
• Rarity: Low Mintage or Survival rate
• Investment history of the appreciation in its value

This investigation uncovers nine extraordinary coins worth more than $900,000. It starts with the famous Flowing Hair Dollar of 1794, then continues through the mysterious 1913 Liberty Head Nickel and each of the others with their unique stories. Among the numismatic treasures featured are exceptional rarity, historical importance, and unmatched collector appeal, making them some of the most highly prized coins in existence.

Understanding the Value of High-Value Coins

Value exceeds face value. Grading will determine much of the value. Professional coin grading makes use of a 70-point scale, where MS-70 stands for a perfect, uncirculated specimen. Each grade difference can mean thousands or even millions of dollars in value variation.

Professional Grading Services

• PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) sets the industry standard with strict authentication protocols.
• NGC – extensive condition analysis and grading
• ANACS – specializes in variety attribution

Third party grading service grades coins in terms of the following:

• Surface preservation
• Strike quality
• Luster
• Color
• Eye appeal

A coin is rare and desirable for more than one reason:

Mint Location Impact

• Coins issued by mint branches tend to be more valuable
• Certain types of mint marks are mintage low
• Some historic significance to the particular mint involved

Production Characteristics

• Die varieties and errors
• Special strikes or finishes
• Experimental pieces
• Proof coins

Historical Context

• Year minted
• Political climate at the time of production
• Economic conditions influencing the supply chain

The interplay of professional grading and all these factors then leads to a very complex market in which some specimens gain truly astronomical values. Every grade step can make a huge difference in price, especially in the higher mint state MS-60 to MS-70.

1. 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar

The 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar was an early American coin for the country’s financial independence. This is one of the most famous silver dollars ever made, minted in the Philadelphia Mint. It was the first dollar coin produced by the U.S. government.

Design and Symbolism

The front side of this coin has Lady Liberty wearing flowing hair. The designer is Robert Scot, the very first Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint. The reverse side consists of an American eagle wrapped in a wreath, representing the hopes for a young nation to have liberty and strength.

Historical Value:

• First silver dollar ever made by the U.S. Mint
• Only 1,758 pieces were struck on October 15, 1794
• About fewer than 150 examples known today
• About 30 still exist in collectible forms

Record-Breaking Auction Sale

The rarity of the issue hit new heights in 2013 when the finest-known copy sold for $10 million at auction. Here we have an example with absolutely outstanding strike quality and wonderful surface preservation, graded SP-66 by PCGS. The sale marked a significant milestone for the hobby of collecting: the highest price paid for any coin ever sold.

Continued Demand and Value

Recent sales continue to show that collectors are still very interested in the 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar. Private collectors search for these coins, and all lower-grade examples consistently sell above $1 million at auction. Its status as being America’s first silver dollar and its extreme rarity firmly establish this coin as part of U.S. numismatic history.

2. 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle

The 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle coin is undoubtedly one of America’s most exciting coin-making history. During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 6102, whereby owning of gold had been outlawed for everybody. So that the 1933 Double Eagles just were not permitted to be allowed into the light of people, but its plans became to destroy the coins as well.

The Mystery of the Missing Coins

Even though there was a directive to melt the coins, 20 coins were lost in the U.S. Mint. The Secret Service conducted an in-depth inquiry and could recover nine coins between 1944 and 1952. Sadly, the recovered coins were melted down.

Known Surviving Coins

• 2 coins are kept in the Smithsonian Institution
• 1 privately owned coin with legitimate ownership
• 10 coins discovered in 2004

The only coin that was legally owned became very popular at auctions. In 2002, it sold for $7.59 million, and in 2021, it set another record when it was sold for $18.9 million at Sotheby’s – the most expensive coin ever sold.

The Design and Creation of the Coin

The reverse design of the coin bears a proud figure of Lady Liberty walking comfortably on one side, and the second side is of a magnificent eagle flying upwards. This was the effort of Augustus Saint-Gaudens at the bidding of President Theodore Roosevelt as a way of transforming U.S. coinage into art works.

Legal Battles Surrounding the Coins

It led to new legal controversies when in 2004, ten more coins were found. These were seized by the U.S. government leading to extended litigation battles in the courts further showing that the Double Eagle would go on as America’s most notorious rare coin ever.

The controversial aspect forms one of the aspects about this very rare gold double eagle issued in 1933 by the American Mint in numismatics.

3. 1804 Draped Bust Dollar

Due to being so rare and having a pretty intriguing history regarding production, this 1804 Draped Bust Dollar is called the “King of American Coins.” This coin on its obverse depicts Lady Liberty with flowing hair. A heraldic eagle holds a talon grasping arrows on one hand and the olive branch on the other, as featured on the coin’s reverse side.

An Unusual Story Behind Its Creation

What makes this coin special is the unusual story of its creation. Although it is dated 1804, these dollars were actually minted between 1834 and 1835 when President Andrew Jackson requested special sets to be presented to foreign leaders. The U.S. Mint produced only 15 pieces in total, divided into three different categories:

• Class I (8 coins): Struck from the original presentation of 1834
• Class II: Struck over a Swiss shooting thaler of 1857
• Class III: Mintage between 1858 and 1860

A Record-Breaking Auction Price

The price of this coin, of course, is determined by its legendary reputation. One Class I specimen sold at auction in 2017 for $4.14 million. Private sales reportedly have been even higher; top quality examples are reportedly worth more than $10 million to collectors.

Unique Features of Each Surviving Coin

Each surviving 1804 Dollar has its own character, making it unique from every other coin in the issue. The Sultan of Muscat specimen is one of the finest known. It possesses an exceptional quality of strike and original mint luster that distinguishes it from all other coins of the same issue.

Limited Availability and High Demand

So, the scarce supply of these coins makes the competition extremely tough among these rich collectors. Most are kept permanently in museums, and it would be quite rare for anyone to be able to purchase an 1804 Dollar.

4. 1913 Liberty Head Nickel

The 1913 Liberty Head Nickel is one of the most interesting and rare coins of all time. On the front, it has Lady Liberty surrounded by 13 stars, and on the back, a Roman numeral V within a wreath. What makes this nickel unique is that it was never officially made – the U.S. Mint had already transitioned to the Buffalo Nickel design in 1913.

The Story Behind Its Creation

There are five known specimens, but each is interesting. Said to be the result of covert mintings by a U.S. Mint veteran, Samuel Brown, nickels started to appear publicly as their creator made an ANA Convention appearance in 1920.

Notable Owners Throughout History

Owners of Note: A few coin owners were so notable that the coins earned distinction as named specimens

• Eliasberg Specimen; PCGS graded PR-66;
• Olsen Specimen-Egypt’s former king, Farouk
• The Norweb Specimen – Is now at the Smithsonian Institution
• The Walton Specimen – Was Lost for Many Years. Resurfaced in 2003
• The McDermott Specimen – Now held at the Money Museum ANA

Record-Breaking Auctions and Market Value

The value of these nickels has skyrocketed over the years. In 2010, one specimen was sold at auction for $3.7 million. The Eliasberg specimen set a new record when sold in 2018 at $4.5 million, making this nickel one of America’s most valuable coins.

Why Collectors Are Drawn to It

With mysterious origins, illegal striking of the coin, and an extreme rarity factor, the piece is highly alluring to serious collectors. The fact that each specimen was part of American numismatic history, with well-documented ownership, points out key figures in coin collecting.

5. 1822 Half Eagle

The 1822 Half Eagle is one of the rarest and most valuable coins in the world. There are only three known pieces. Two of these pieces are part of the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution, while the privately owned piece is stored separately.

This is a $5 gold coin that plays a significant role in American economic history. There was tremendous financial turmoil after the war in the early 1820s; many gold coins were melted down due to inflation after the war. Surviving coins from this era are exquisitely made; one side shows a capped bust of Liberty, and the other has an eagle holding arrows.

What makes this coin even more special is that it has been graded as AU50 by PCGS, or About Uncirculated. This makes it very unique since the gold coins from this time period had most of them showing lots of wear and tear.

This private-owned coin is history-making in every way, not just the grade.

• The first known sale of the coin is recorded in 1899 at $5,000
• It was sold to D.U. Stacks for $80,000 in 1945
• Latest sale of the coin at $8.4 million in 2021.

The value of the 1822 Half Eagle was not only in the value of gold but rather a concrete connection to the monetary development of America during her expansion and economic growth phase.

6. 1804 Eagle

Of course, the 1804 Eagle is one of the more popular early American coins. It’s simply of incredible historical importance, coupled with great artistry in a $10 gold coin – a design on it detailing a majestic eagle perched atop a shield with surrounding stars that prove that engravers of that period, in the very young United States Mint, knew how to work a medal out.

Rarity and Significance

Only four specimens of the 1804 Eagle have been discovered, so rare that they were hardly struck at different mints. Each specimen has a story to tell about the American numismatic heritage:

• Bass-Dannreuther Specimen (BD-1): PR-63
• Garrett Specimen: From an old European collection.
• Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Example
• Sultan of Muscat Specimen: The best known example to date.

But more than its age and rarity, this coin holds immense value in being produced during the significant policy shifts of U.S. monetary policy. As such, it is a significant coin in understanding early American financial history. The sales lately have crossed the mark of $5 million, proving to be one of the most valuable coins in the field of numismatics.

Appeal to Collectors

The 1804 Eagle is a coin that appeals to the completionist collector because it represents an important date in the early Eagle series. For the mint mark and variety specialist, any example of this coin is a major milestone in their collecting journey.

7. 1861 Paquet Reverse Double Eagle

This 1861 Paquet Reverse Double Eagle is a great example of how small changes in design can make a huge difference in the value of a coin. Assistant Engraver Anthony C. Paquet came up with an original variant of the regular Liberty Head Double Eagle, using taller and thinner letters on the back.

This original design variation resulted in:

• A lettering that had a more refined look
• Rim borders that were narrower
• Increased visual depth to the overall design

These coins were minted at the Philadelphia Mint for a short period before they discontinued them because of the apprehensions that the modified design would not last long. Today, only two specimens of Philadelphia survive, one of which is housed in the Smithsonian Institution and the other in private hands.

The San Francisco Mint managed to mint a small run of Paquet Reverse Double Eagles, making what numismatists consider a separate and very valuable variety. These coins feature:

• Distinct characteristics of Paquet’s altered design
• Excellent preservation quality
• Historic significance as a test piece from the mint

Such coins brought over $1.5 million at the recent auctions. Their low mintage, historic importance, and the interesting history behind the short run they made at the minting plant makes the 1861 Paquet Reverse Double Eagle the holy grail of collectibles for serious numismatists interested in distinct varieties of American coinage.

Exploring Other Notable High-Value Coins Beyond $900k Threshold

The world of coins has fabulous pieces that could amass a fortune but will surely not add up to such a figure as $900,000. There are examples such as the Morgan Silver Dollar series; that is, the 1879 CC Silver Morgan Dollar, which may cost even up to $500,000 if it is in mint condition.

Modern Coins That Have Increased Significantly in Value

Error coins even go so far as displaying a few spectacular price movements:

• The 2000-P Sacagawea Dollar/Washington Quarter Mule – A mule mistake that places a Sacagawea dollar reverse onto the obverse of a Washington quarter, sold for $155,250
• The 1975 No S Roosevelt Dime – A missing mint mark on a proof, sold for $456,000
• The 1964 SMS Kennedy Half Dollar – A special strike featuring unique characteristics, sold for $400,000

Recent Error Coins and Their Value

Error coins form a new category of value :

• Double-struck coins
• Off-center strikes
• Wrong planchet errors

The 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent is an interesting example of how modern coins can increase in value. The best examples of this coin can sell for close to $700,000. This shows that mistakes made during production, limited numbers being made, and historical importance all contribute to the value of modern coins.

Conclusion

Rare coin collecting is a world of limitless possibilities for seasoned collectors and newcomers alike. These nine coins priced above $900,000 represent the ultimate in numismatic achievement, yet they are only the tip of the iceberg in this fascinating hobby.

You do not need to start your collecting journey with multi-million dollar purchases. Begin with tiny purchases, learn about coin grading, join collector communities and build your knowledge. Much of the high-value coinage remains in circulation and estate sales waiting to be found.

Are you ready to start your collection?

It is not only a monetary value but stories, and a history that the valuable coins carry. The next one in your turn may be a treasure from the farthest oblivion.

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