Sometimes it can be difficult to believe that money could be worth more than its printed price.
It is possible though, as we will show you. It really comes down to historical significance, age, rarity, printing mistakes, and historical importance.
As you can see, your money may be worth more than it appears in the future. However, you might need to wait until you are able to sell your property at auction.
Here’s a list of the 10 most expensive coins in the world…
The 10 Most Expensive Coins in the World
This list of figures and coins has been compiled using various web sources, including Money Inc, Mental Floss, and The Spruce Crafts.
These are the 10 most expensive coins in the world:
10. Liberty Head Nickel (1913) – Hawai Five-O Star
Cost: $3.7 Million
The 1913 Liberty head nickel is the first on the list. It was used in Hawai Five O.
This coin was used for close-up work. Coins of lower value were brought in to do any more dangerous work, which could devalue the coin.
The coin is believed to be one of five original Liberty Head Nickels that were stolen by an employee and made it into private auctions or coin collections.
Heritage Auctions sold the Liberty Head Nickel in 2007 at auction for $3,737,000.
9. Bust Dollar – Class 1 – Dexter-Poque Specimen (1804)
Cost: $3.8 Million
Next, we have a 1804 Bust Collar Class 1 coin worth $3.8 Million.
This coin is very rare and highly valuable due to its long-standing heritage and the small “D” in the clouds on the reverse. This indicated that the coin belonged to James V. Dexter, a wealthy Numismatist.
This coin was discovered for the first time in Germany in 1804. It is highly sought-after by coin collectors because there are only eight class 1 coins known to have been made.
The Bust Dollar Class 1 was created approximately 183 years ago. It was sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries & Sotherby’s on March 31st 2017 for $3,865,750.
8. $1 Million Gold Canadian Maple Leaf (2007)
Cost: $4.02 Million
The Gold Maple Leaf coin sold for an incredible $4,020,000 by Dorotheum Auction House in Vienna, Austria in June 2010. It is one of the most valuable coins in the world.
The Canadian mint produced the first million-dollar coin in the world in 2007.
The impressive 100-gram coin is made from 99.999% pure Gold.
This coin was created to promote Royal Canadian Mints’ new 99.999% pure one troy ounce Gold Maple leaf bullion coin line.
At the moment, five of these coins are owned by coin collectors around the world.
7. Silver Dollar Class 1 – 1804 – (The Watters-Childs Specimen)
Cost: $4.1 Million
The Silver Dollar Class 1 1804 is number seven on our list.
The “King of U.S Coins” specimen sold for $4.1 Million dollars in August 1999. It is the best-known 1804 Silver dollar.
It was graded proof-68 by the Professional Coin Grading Service. In 1999 it was the most expensive coin in the world, surpassing the previous leader by more that twice.
Over the years, the coin has been owned by some very impressive people, such as Henry Chapman and Virgil Brand, the Sultan of Muscat, the Poque family, and Henry Chapman.
The coin was again put up for auction in 2016. It received an astonishing offer of $10.575,000. This was the highest amount ever offered for a coin.
The reserve price for the auction did not allow the coin to sell, so the price was not reached.
The 1804 Silver Dollar Class 1 Watters Specimen is still worth $4.1 million.
6. Liberty Head Nickel – Morton-Smith-Eliaspberg (1913)
Cost: $4.5 Million
The Morton-Smith-Eliaspberg Liberty Head Nickel reached $4,560,000 dollars at auction in 2018.
This is one of five specimens known. It is the best known example.
Its beautiful, mirror-like surface is one of its greatest assets.
It is the only one of the five that has been finished in this manner, making it more valuable for collectors and coin lovers.
There is however some controversy about this coin as no production records are available from the mint.
It has been graded by Professional Coin Graders, ranging from MS-62 Proof 64 to MS-62 Proof 64.
Keep that in mind when you see this item up for sale.
5. Edward III Florin (1343)
Cost: $6.8 Million
Our oldest coin, which is approximately 670 years old, is currently valued at just below $7 million.
Its age is the main determinant of its value. This coin is believed to be the only one that has survived through the centuries.
This coin is not only one of the most valuable coins in the world but also one of the rarest. It’s highly unlikely that any other coins of this value will ever be discovered.
The current value of the coin is $6.8million. It was discovered in 2006 and sold at auction that same year.
Two of the remaining coins, which were found in the River Tyne, in 1857, are on display at the British Museum.
4. Brasher Doubloon (1787)
Cost: $7.4 Million
One man set out to convince New York State to use copper coins rather than gold to create the 1787 Brasher Doubloon.
The State, however, did not accept Ephriam’s plan and stated that they didn’t want any copper coins.
Being the skilled Goldsmith that he is, Mr Brasher ignored the state and decided not to make new coins, but he did mint some 22-carat coins.
These coins are extremely rare and rich in history, making them highly sought-after and valuable.
One coin was purchased at auction by a Wall Street Investment Firm in 2011 for $7.4 Million.
3. Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle (1907)
Cost: $7.6 Million
It proved more difficult than expected to produce large quantities of the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle 1907 coin.
The complex design caused a halt in production. Something had to be done.
This decision was made by Charles Barber, the chief engraver at the U.S Mints. He chose to delete the words “In God We trust” from the coin.
Congress did not like this, but the coin was still produced and is worth $7.6 Million dollars!
2. Double Eagle (1933)
Cost: $7.6 Million
The 1933 second round of Double Eagles was recalled by the public and melted at the mint. This was due to Theodore Roosevelt’s ban on gold ownership.
He believed it would ease the current banking crisis. However, a few 1993-dated Double Eagles managed to escape from the mint’s vaults.
It’s interesting to note that it is still illegal to possess one of these coins. If you are found with one, it can be confiscated immediately.
One private owner, however, managed to purchase a coin that was owned originally by King Farouk, Egypt. He was forced to sell it and split the proceeds with U.S. mint.
In 2002, the 1933 Double Eagle was sold at auction for $7,590,000.020
1. Flowing Hair Silver/Copper Dollar (1794/5)
Cost: $10 Million
The 1794/5 Flowing Hair Silver/Copper Dollar is the most valuable coin in the world.
Expert Numismatic experts believe this coin was the first to be issued by the U.S Federal Government.
It sold for just over 10 million dollars, setting a new record in the world for the most expensive single-coin sale.
In 1792, the United States Mint opened its first doors. It initially mint copper and patterned coins for two year before moving to silver coins.
This historic, highly valued coin has been preserved by coin collectors for over 200 years. This adds to its value and increases its price.
The Flowing Hair Silver/Copper Dollar was worth $10 million in 2013.
Summary
We hope that you enjoyed our list with the 10 most expensive coins worldwide.
It is amazing to believe that a $1 coin or $20 coin could have millions of dollars in today’s market, just for a few errors in printing or missing words. But, it’s true!
This list may be a good starting point for a collection of coins.
This list is great! You might also like the one we just published on the most costly precious metals.
Here’s a quick recap of the 10 most expensive coins in the world:
- Flowing Hair Silver/Copper Dollar – 1794 – $10 Million
- Double Eagle – 1933 – $7.6 Million
- Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle – 1907 – $7.6 Million
- Brasher Doubloon – 1787 – $7.4 Million
- Edward III Florian – 1343 – $6.8 Million
- Liberty Head Nickel – Mortan-Smith-Eliasberg – 1913 – $4.5 Million
- Silver Dollar Class 1 – 1804 – (The Watters-Childs Specimen) – $4.1 Million
- $1 Million Gold Maple Leaf – 2007 – $4.02 Million
- Bust Dollar – Class 1 Dexter -Poque Specimen – 1804 – $3.8 Million
- Liberty Head Nickel – Hawai-Five-O Star – 1913 – $3.7 Million
