The World of Rare Coins: The Prized Double Eagle

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed)
Jan 30th 2008 at 2:01PM

It's everybody's dream to suddenly find a rare coin floating around in their pocket or purse and be an instant millionaire, and although that's always possible (not all the rare coins in the world are accounted for) it's pretty unlikely. Coin collecting is big business, both as a hobby and as a way to turn a profit. As a general rule the more rare a coin is the more it's worth, so what's the rarest coin ever? It's a debatable subject as not all experts always agree, but if the Double Eagle isn't at the top of that list it's sure near it. Back in 2002 the only Double Eagle coin left to be in private hands (or so everybody thought) sold for $7.9 million dollars.

Other rare coins include the Double Eagles smaller cousin the Quarter Eagle, and then the Brasher Doubloon, and the Eagle. More for fun then there's always the world's biggest coin, valued at $2 million+ (it's weights over 220 pounds and is the size of a pizza -- that would be a fun delivery!).

Good luck searching those pockets!

Gallery: Rare Coins

Tags: coin, coins, double eagle, DoubleEagle, rare

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Danny Jan 30th 2008 11:01PM

I love the Eagle coin the most, but all of these would be great to find in the laundry... or anywhere else for that matter!

Max Jan 31st 2008 2:42PM

You should note that it is only the double eagle from the year 1933 that is worth so much, not other dates. If someone found one from, say, 1915, it might not even be worth a thousand dollars. In addition, the sell price was 7.6, not 7.9.

ColoradoRon Jan 31st 2008 3:24PM

Check out the 1907 High Relief........

Ray Norcum Jan 31st 2008 5:00PM

I remember as a child in the early 50's my father bought and sold gold and silver coins as a hobby. He must have sold well over 100 gold coins. I remember him saying if he could get $60.00 dollars for all the $20.00 dollar gold coins he got he would be rich. How times have changed!

debi Jan 31st 2008 6:38PM

If I had a 1923 Double Eagle where would you take it to be valued?

BRIAN HOLMES Feb 22nd 2008 1:16PM

just look up $20 gold 1923 on ebay, you'll get a fair idea

D Cohen Mar 7th 2008 12:06PM

Check the "Red Book" published every year and available at book stores. It lists every coin, US and foreign, ancient, and oddities, rates values by condition, its likely market value and a bit of history. Experts in the field prep the book.

Carlos Man Jr. Feb 1st 2008 8:28AM

I want to start a silver dollar collection and I wonder if your institution can give some advice.

Thank you very much.

Cman2ms3.us

r.d.dorman Feb 3rd 2008 12:35PM

I have a lot of silver coins I want to sell.
At 2007 red book prices or more.

Dave Feb 4th 2008 2:09PM

www.coin country. net. They sell the best collections of silver dollars I've seen. In fact they have a great sale on now, the whole series of silver dollars. Good luck

J.L. BULLOCK Feb 2nd 2008 3:53PM

I AM INTO SOME COMEMMARATED SILVER ,9.999 WITH GEORGE WASHINTON CROSSING THE DELEWARE, THE LIBERTY BELL AND SO ON, HOW DO I PUT THOS ON THE MARKET FOR SELL? EACH SQUARE IS AN OUNCE, WHAT COULD IT BE WORTH?

J.L. Feb 2nd 2008 3:51PM

BY THE WAY I HAVE THE ORIGINAL FOOTAG THAT WAS PUT OUT ,SHOWING ADOLF HITLER AND JESSIE OWENS, HIM RAISING HIS FIST AND HIS FIRST OLYMPIC GAMES , SPONSERED BY ARCO. WHO DO I SPEAK TO ABOUT THE FIL FOR SALE?

J.L. Feb 2nd 2008 7:59PM

I HAVE WHATS CALLED THE SILVER BAR COLLECTION. ITS UP FOR SALE...ALL IS 9.999 OF SILVER AND EACH WEIGHT IS AN OUNCE. WASHINTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE,WITH HIS ME AND HIMSELF INSCRIBE ON A BAR. ALSO SUCH IMAGES AS THE SHRINERS BADGE WITH THE STAR.8 STAR ONE SILVER EAGLE 1972.SALUTE TO AMERICAN INVENTERS, WITH SAMUEL S.MORSE. AND A HOST OF MANY MORE POTRAITS. THIS IS 9.999 SILVER.

Werner Saemmler-Hindrichs Feb 3rd 2008 10:50PM

This blogger needs to do his homework. As already pointed out by another answer with less emphasis, that price only applies to the illegaly released 1933. A normal double eagle is a bullion coin, and readily available all over the country for an extremely slight premium over the gold price. There are a few that are higher.

Dale Feb 9th 2008 2:42PM

I have a one ounce gold coin graded and certified with Gerald Fords Signature on it. What could it be worth? 1986 I believe. Susposed to be only 500 like it.

bigR Feb 10th 2008 3:05PM

This article is very misleading to those that
have now knowledge of coins- but typical of
AOL content.

Anyway 1870S Dollar- just as rare.

Phyllis Feb 10th 2008 5:09PM

How much would an 1897 gold eagle be worth today?

Barbara Seales Feb 16th 2008 10:34PM

I have in my possesion a $5.00 bill that is a $5 dollar gold note. I have silver certificates on one dollar bills, but this one is rare to me. Can anyone tell me what it is worth?

BRIAN HOLMES Feb 22nd 2008 1:16PM

You folks asking what something is worth, condition is the biggest factor, but look them up on Ebay, you can get a pretty good idea from there...

jd downie Feb 29th 2008 6:41PM

Geesh, can it get more misleading? As werner said, only the 1933 Double Eagle is worth that much. However the double eagle is not a bulion coin. The bullion coins started in 1986. Real double eagles were last made in 1933 and then deemed illegal to own. At this date there are more than 21 known examples, but only one has been legalized tender, and thereby legal to own.