There is a reason why many people always look at the coins a cashier hands them when they make change. There are certain rare coins that are worth a fortune. While it isn’t probable, you will receive a million-dollar coin at the check-out, knowing some of the rarest coins and their value could be beneficial when you go to estate or yard sales or are cleaning out a grandparents’ home.

Coin collecting is one of the oldest hobbies on record. Besides, collecting coins can be rewardable. Not only do many coins gain value, but if you decide that collecting is not for you after trying it, you will likely get all of your investment back, a rare occurrence when it comes to most investments.

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Most of the highest-rated coins are from the 1800s up to around 1920. Values decrease dramatically after that time. There are basically three reasons a coin is highly valuable:

  1. The number of coins in existence. A low number of known coins will make any coin more valuable.
  1. The content of the coin. The type of metal used for the coin, whether it’s gold, silver or copper, make it more costly. Most coins today don’t contain the same amount of such metals.
  1. Historical value of the coin. Some coins are expensive because of who owned them or how they are recovered.

There are some coins worth millions while some are worth several thousand. Below is a list of some of the most collectible coins in the world.

The 1849 Double Eagle
By far, this is the most valuable coin known as it is valued at $20 million. It has the trifecta of valuable attributes as it is made of gold at the beginning of the California gold rush and is incredibly rare. The value has jumped in recent years because it was valued at $15 million just two years ago.

Saint Gaudens Coins
These coins garner a lot of cash depending upon the mint year. The 1907 Saint Gaudens is valued at $8.5 million and is so rare that the best are located at the Smithsonian Museum. This book is an interest for collectors by its own. Here the 1927 D Saint Gaudens Double Eagle is valued at $1.2 million while the 1933 Double Eagle is valued at $7.59 million.

The 1933 Double Eagle
The 1933 Double Eagle is highly distinguished because 1933 was the last year of production. This coin was never circulated and all were melted because the government discontinued the gold standard in 1933. Other Saint Gaudens coins also hold value. The 1921 St. Gaudens Double East is valued at $130,000. There is a 1930 version that also holds good value at $120,000.

1794 Silver Dollar
This coin, the first silver dollar produced by the U.S. Mint, is different from later coins in that the hair of the head flows, earning it the nickname of the “Flowing Hair Dollar.” Worth 7.85 million, this coin is one of the most rare and one of the most expensive in a private collector’s hands. It also has a national historical aspect to it, making it a special coin to own. Don’t miss a chance to deep into revolutionary world of 17th-18th centuries coinage.

1822 Half Eagle
This $6 million coin has a bit of mystery because of the 17,796 coins minted, there remains only three left. Two of those are in the Smithsonian Museum, leaving the world to speculate where the third coin remains. These coins were released in $5 denominations, are gold and feature a Liberty head of the front and a flying eagle on the back.

Liberty Coins
Much like the Saint Gaudens coins, there are several in this series that are worth a fortune. Topping the list is the 1913 Liberty Head, valued at $4.5 million. This was a 5-cent coin and has the distinction of being produced without approval from the U.S. Mint.

The 1913 coin was the first to bust the million-dollar cost ceiling when one sold in 1996 for $1.485 million. The 1870 Liberty Seated dollar is valued at $1.9 million and the 1881 Liberty Head Double Eagle coin is valued at $180,000. Some of the less rare coins are the 1873 CC Liberty Seated quarter, worth $90,000 and the 1887 Liberty Head Double Eagle, valued at $89,000.

No, you may not have a million-dollar coin in your purse, but there could be a chance you may have some of the less rare coins in an old coin collection book or box in the attic. It doesn’t hurt to check because you could find your own treasure, stowed away, waiting to be discovered!

Bio –
This contribution post was made by Infinity Coins, specializing in bullion, jewelry and other collectibles. Infinity Coins has become the Pinedale coin dealers and Driggs coin dealers that locals have come to trust.