Identifying the single “rarest coin in the world” is difficult because rarity can be subjective and depend on various factors like:
- Number of Surviving Examples: Some coins were minted in extremely limited quantities or nearly all were destroyed, making the few remaining pieces exceptionally rare.
- Historical Significance: Coins associated with pivotal historical events or figures can be considered rarer due to their importance, even if more examples might exist.
- Condition: Even for coins with a larger initial mintage, finding specimens in pristine, uncirculated condition can be exceptionally rare and valuable.
However, some coins consistently appear on lists of the world’s rarest and most valuable:
- 1933 Double Eagle: Considered by many to be the world’s rarest and most valuable gold coin, despite a significant initial mintage of 445,500 pieces. Only a handful survived the government order to melt down nearly all of them, [according to Bellevue Rare Coins] . One sold for nearly $19 million in 2021.
- 1849 Double Eagle: Only one of these trial pieces from the era of the $20 coins, known as Double Eagles, is known to be in existence, making it arguably the rarest US coin. It was minted in 1850 but is marked 1849. It is preserved at the Smithsonian Institution and valued at around $20 million.
- 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar: The first dollar coin issued by the US federal government, only a limited number were produced, and very few survive in original condition. One sold for over $10 million in 2022.
- 1344 Edward III Gold Florin (“Double Leopard”): An extremely rare medieval English coin with only three known examples in existence.
Other notable mentions include the 1787 Brasher Gold Doubloon, the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel, and the 723 Umayyad Gold Dinar.
Ultimately, the definition of “rarest” is open to interpretation, but the coins listed above are consistently cited as among the most sought-after and valuable by collectors and numismatic experts.
What coin is illegal to own?
I can help with that. For example, the 1933 Double Eagle gold coin, minted but never legally circulated, is considered government property and therefore illegal to own. In fact, owning one of these rare $20 coins today is not just illegal but may result in confiscation.
What’s the rarest 1 coin?
2011 Edinburgh £1. Mintage: 935,000. …
2011 Cardiff (Wales) £1. Mintage: 1,615,000. …
2010 London City £1. Mintage: 2,635,000. …
2014 Thistle & Bluebell £1. Mintage: 5,185,000. …
2013 Daffodil & Leek £1. Mintage: 5,270,000. …
2013 Rose & Oak £1. Mintage: 5,270,000. …
2014 Flax & Shamrock £1. …
2010 Belfast £1.
What US coin is worth $19 million?
The 1933 double eagle $20 gold coin became the most expensive coin ever sold in June 2021 when it was auctioned for $18.9 million. But when the U.S. Mint first produced the coin in 1933, it wasn’t particularly rare, with around 445,500 produced.