Among the rarest and most valuable American coins, the 1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar stands out, often dubbed the “King of American Coins”.
Interestingly, these dollars weren’t actually minted in 1804, [according to the American Numismatic Association] . Instead, they were struck around 1834-35 and later for diplomatic purposes and collectors. There are only 15 known examples of this coin.
One Class I 1804 Draped Bust Dollar sold for over $4 million in 1999, which was a record at the time. Another Class I example sold for $7.68 million in 2021.
Other exceptionally rare and valuable US coins include:
- 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar: This was the first silver dollar issued by the US federal government. A specimen of this coin sold for over $10 million in 2013.
- 1913 Liberty Head Nickel: Only five of these coins were ever produced, making them incredibly rare.
- 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle: While hundreds of thousands of these were minted, they were later withdrawn from circulation, and most were melted down. Only a few are known to exist today.
What coin is worth $40,000?
Good point! PCGS values a 1966 Jefferson Nickel in MS66 FS as worth $40,000 and the reason is the grade (MS66) and the striking designation “Full Steps” or “FS”. The 1966 nickel is extremely rare when the steps are fully struck and in the grade MS66 it’s a registry quality coin.
What US coin is worth $19 million?
I can help with that. 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.
Are any $1 coins worth more than $1?
While most modern dollar coins are worth only face value, certain series and dates can command significant premiums, with some historical silver dollars worth $40 or more in average condition.