In
Depth: Most Valuable U.S. Coins April 23, 2009 -
Read the full story Zack O'Malley Greenburg
Image Courtesy of www.silver-coins.org
No. 10: 1885 "Trade"
Silver Dollar ($2.6 million)
Designed by William Barber, there are just five known
proofs of this coin. John Albanese believes it is worth
$3.5 million in superb condition.
No. 8: 1870S Three Dollar Gold Piece ($2.7 million,
tie)
The only known example of this coin was last sold for
$687,500, back in 1982. Time and rarity have driven up
its value. Historians believe another example may have
been buried in the cornerstone of a San Francisco building
ages ago.
Image Courtesy of HA.com
No. 8: 1873-CC Dime, Liberty Seated ($2.7 million,
tie)
One of the great Wild West artifacts. This coin is said
to be the only unique issue from the Carson City Mint,
which filled its coins with gold plucked from nearby mines.
Image Courtesy of HA.com
No. 7: 1797 Half-Cent, Liberty Cap ($3 million)
At the end of 1795, President George Washington decided
to make a dent in the country's copper shortage by reducing
the weight of certain coins. This resulted in the production
of a few rarities, like the 1797 Half-Cent, a numismatist's
dream.
Photo by Rare Coin Wholesalers
via Getty Images
No. 6: 1794 Silver Dollar, Flowing Hair ($3.2
million)
If you think there isn't much to say about coins, think
again. This rare chunk of metal is the subject of an entire
book, The Flowing Hair Silver Dollars of 1794 - An Historical
and Population Census Study by Martin A. Logies, which
documents the appearances of over 125 different examples
of the coin over the years.
Photo Courtesy
of http://www.usrarecoininvestments.com
No. 5: 1861 Double Eagle, Coronet Paquet reverse
($4.4 million)
Production of this coin was stopped by the U.S. Mint due
to late-breaking design revisions, but authorities did
not receive word until after a few of the coins had already
been produced. Just two examples of this coin are known
to exist, though more may have been minted.
Image Courtesy of http://www.coinace.com
No. 4: 1804 Eagle Gold, Capped Bust ($5.1 million)
Less than 10 were produced, and only four of them are
currently known to exist. Adding to the novelty, the coins
were minted in 1834--three decades after the date on the
coin--to be used in diplomatic presentations.
No. 3: 1913 Liberty Nickel ($5.9 million)
Though it seems only a fool would pay millions for a five-cent
coin, this particular piece of metal is highly unusual
because it was somehow produced without the knowledge
of its maker--the U.S. Mint. Theories abound, and only
five examples of this coin are known to exist.
No. 2: 1933 Double Eagle ($8.5 million)
Though it's not the most valuable coin, the 1933 Double
Eagle is perhaps the rarest and most famous. As a result
of a bizarre series of events that started unfolding nearly
a century ago, there is only one in existence that's legal
to own.
No. 1: 1804 Silver Dollar, Draped Bust ($10.1
million)
A specimen in good condition is worth $10 million, making
it America's most valuable coin. With only 19 copies known
to exist, it's also the envy of numismatists across the
country thanks to its rarity, design and beauty.
