Rarest U.S. Coin Is Worth $20 Million

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Feb 22nd 2011 at 4:01AM

What is the most valuable United States coin? The coin, shown at right is the Smithsonian's 1849-dated "Double Eagle" $20 denomination gold piece. The unique coin was struck by the United States Mint in Philadelphia during the early days of the California Gold Rush. The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) has rounded-up the 2011 PCGS Million Dollar Coin Club and their experts agree that this coin has gone up in value from an estimated $15 million last year to $20 million now. The first $20 gold piece struck at the United States Mint is part of the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. It will be exhibited in Chicago in August at the World's Fair of Money.

Here's a reason to start collecting, the group says that the most valuable rare coins have increased in value by an estimated 25 to 50 percent the past year. There are currently 235 historic U.S. coins valued at $1 million or more that are in private collections or museums (an estimated total combined value of $548.6 million).

"It was only 15 years ago that a coin first broke the million dollar mark at auction. That coin is the finest of only five known 1913 Liberty Head nickels, and in 1996 it sold for $1,485,000. It now is valued at $4,500,000," explained David Hall, President of Collectors Universe, Inc.of Santa Ana, California.

The 2011 PCGS Million Dollar Coin Club listing was compiled by Hall and Ron Guth, President of PCGS CoinFacts, in consultation with four other well-known professional numismatists: Jim Halperin, Co-Chairman of Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas; Kevin Lipton, President of Kevin Lipton Rare Coins, Beverly Hills, California; Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions; and Laura Sperber, President of Legend Numismatics, Lincroft, New Jersey.

Others in the top 10 include a 1907 Indian Head $20 Saint-Gaudens gold pattern (estimated grade Proof 69) valued at $1 million. Now in a private collection, this unique gold pattern was designed by famed sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and combines his $10 Indian Head obverse design with his $20 reverse design. A 1877 $50 gold pattern J-1546 (estimated grade Proof 67) is also at $15 million, up from $10 million last year. The famous "Half Union" gold piece is unique and in the Smithsonian. The1877 $50 gold pattern J-1548 (estimated grade Proof 67) is variation on the design of the other "Half Union" and had the same jump in value. This coin is also unique and in the Smithsonian. Also at the Smithsonian is the 1907 Double Thick Extremely High Relief Saint-Gaudens $20 (two coins, both estimated grade Proof 69) estimated at $8.5 million.

A 1794 Silver Dollar (graded PCGS Specimen 66 and shown at left) is listed at $7.85 million up from $5 million last year. In a private collection, this is believed by some experts to be the very first silver dollar struck by the United States Mint.
king of siam 1804 liberty

The 1804 Class I ("Original") Silver Dollar (graded PCGS Proof 68 and shown at right) worth $7.5 million is the finest of the 15 known, famous 1804 silver dollars. This coin, now in a private collection, was originally given to the Sultan of Muscat in 1836 as a diplomatic gift on behalf of President Andrew Jackson. Another coin from that same gift, the 1804 Class I ("Original") Silver Dollar (graded PCGS Proof 67) valued at $6.5 million.

Rounding out the list is an 1822 $5 gold piece (estimated grade Extremely Fine 45) valued at $6 million is one of only three surviving 1922 Half Eagle gold coins out of 17,796 struck. The other two specimens are in the Smithsonian.

Tags: coin collecting, coins, gold coins, nickels, pennies, silver dollar

Filed under: Wealth

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

ken Feb 23rd 2011 12:17PM

so sad i miss my coins i lost my job had to sell 95% of mine been collecting 30 plus years the shop i sold them at i know cheated me some i know but i needed the money it was really sad they priced them one by one and put them in a pile, i kept thinking 30 years im i doing this it still hurts me every day

Melanie Feb 23rd 2011 8:36PM

Hey Ken-- In your 30 years of collecting, you learned a lot about history, geography, religion, economics, art, politics,...etc. You don't lose that when you sell your coins. Keep reading coin mags and books (ask your library to get them for you), and remember that it doesn't take a collection to be a collector. Good Luck, --Mel

gelewis Feb 23rd 2011 4:33PM

This video is old (probably 2008) and not accurate. First, there is no such thing as a star war coin, it is a medal and a numismatist should know the difference. The state quarters are something of the past, now there are Park quarters. Another web site to check out is www.money.org which belongs to the American Numismatic Association, the largest coin club in the world.

Vicki Feb 23rd 2011 5:39PM

Wonder, how do you know who you can trust to give you the value on a coin. I have an 1883 silver dollar, in very good condition I would like to know what it's worth.

Nico Toscani Feb 23rd 2011 6:38PM

To answer your question: An 1883 Morgan silver dollar can vary in value from about $21.00 to about $75.00, depending on the mint mark and condition. This is what a coin dealer would pay you. They made a lot of silver dollars that year, even at the mints in Carson City and New Orleans. The majority of the value in this coin comes from the silver itself.

nbart Feb 23rd 2011 6:41PM

1883 is a very common date for Morgan silver dollars. Plus, what you think is "very good condition" is probably not as good as you think. I would expect to get in the $21- $75 dollar range depending on the mint mark and condition from a reputable coin dealer. Most of the value comes from the silver itself.

ssttuufff Feb 23rd 2011 8:00PM

Surprised the republicans haven't put it up for sale! Oh god, I've given them the idea!

ejeez Feb 23rd 2011 8:06PM

Hi All...I have a 1787 Fugio coin with the 13 rings for the 13 colonies and the slogan "WE ARE ONE"...it isn't in the best shape but wondering what it could be worth?!!!

clinton Feb 23rd 2011 10:17PM

No coin ever struck is worth more than face value,and whoever says different shoul contact me for I have property avaialable for immediate ownership at wholesale prices,please call me for I feel that I can help you find your way!!

Nico Toscani Feb 24th 2011 12:19AM

I guess the price of silver and gold mean nothing to you then. That's pretty silly considering the dollars in your wallet right now are worth NOTHING. It's called "fiat currency" and you should look into it.

clinton Feb 23rd 2011 10:19PM

oops!!! sorry I did not make a comment worthy of being posted!!!!!!!!!!!!

clinton Feb 23rd 2011 10:19PM

You know what you can do.

ptwoodycrew Feb 23rd 2011 11:32PM

Been collecting since '57. Get most of mine free with my metal detectors since '68. And I trade all the lesser stuff I find for a good piece - $1000 worth of junk coins buys me a $1000 coin. My collection is valued over $200K and all it ever cost me was a metal detector and a good time coinshooting. Try it!

rabhit6 Feb 24th 2011 12:56AM

That sounds very smart PT..thanks. I haven't 'collected' in many years. What I still have I may take and do as you stated and begin anew. Thanks again.

Bchrd375 Feb 24th 2011 8:51AM

how about an 1899 quarter, 1908 and 1906 nickle and a buffalo nickle somebody made a miner of the indian on it including a beard - 1915, 1902 50cent piece, lots of wheat pennies ad a lot of old foreign coins

Nico Toscani Feb 24th 2011 7:45PM

Get what is called a "Redbook" to check the retail values of your coins. Better yet, go to a reliable coin shop in good standing with the ANA and get a wholesale appraisal. Then you'll really know what your collection is worth. The carved buffalo nickel is called a "hobo nickel" and even modern ones are quite collectible. They go for $70 and up in a retail setting.

Linda Feb 24th 2011 9:15AM

I have a 2-1/2 dollar gold piece 1856 and a 5 dollar gold piece I think 1824, in vg condition. How do you find out what they are worth without buying a book or going to a coin shop, can I find a place online.

smithdeane Feb 24th 2011 9:20AM

coins do not attain that kind of value , Period . Rediculious as gold at 1400 oz. or silver at $33 oz. . This will all crash soon . Of course I would love one of these coins and would sell it immediately to some rich sucker .

specu3008 Feb 24th 2011 11:07AM

Well, you can keep thinking that for another 3 or 4 years and I will make the money off of silver. What has investing in stocks done for anyone lately. If you had paid $5 for an ounce of silver and sold it today, that would be a 700% profit. Gold and Silver will not be going down in the next 3 or 4 years and Gold will go up to at least $2500 and silver at least $100 an ounce. Invest $1,000 in silver today and next year at this time you can triple the value. My grand daughter was making $1.75 at the bank every month for her savings of $600....she took that $600 and bought 40 ounces of silver at $15 an ounce, right now on EBAY she could sell at $37 an ounce and make $1,480 with a profit of $880....the bank would have paid her a little over $60 in profit for keeping it in the bank. So please do not tell me its a bad investment....the bad investment is the BANK!

Nico Toscani Feb 24th 2011 7:41PM

You keep thinking that and investing in bad stocks backed by worthless currency. As long as the dollar is weak and keeps getting weaker, gold and silver will keep rising in value.

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