January 16, 2025 | 02:16 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A coin often represents little more than its face value, but some rare specimens defy that notion entirely. The most valuable coins are not only treasures in themselves but also windows into history, each with a story that adds to its immense worth.
List of Most Valuable Coins
The Silver Picker and Yahoo! Finance highlight the 1933 Double Eagle as one of the most valuable coins in the world. Other legendary coins making the list include:
1. 1933 Double Eagle
Estimated value: $18.9M
Symbolizing the Great Depression and the history of American togetherness, the 1933 Double Eagle is currently the most valuable coin in the world. Although 445,000 of these U.S. gold coins were minted in 1933, they were never officially released into circulation.
The coin’s rarity is rooted in the government order to melt them down. However, the story takes a dramatic turn, with a total of 20 coins being stolen, leaving only a few remaining today.
2. 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar
Estimated value: $12M
The 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar is one of the first silver dollars minted by the U.S. government, marking the beginning of the U.S. Mint’s operations. Authorized through the Coinage Act of 1792, the minting of silver dollars began in 1794, with the original Flowing Hair design used for the first issue.
This design was replaced in 1795, making the 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar exceedingly rare, with only 1,758 coins struck in total.
3. 1787 Brasher Doubloon
Estimated value: $10-12M
Ephraim Brasher, a recognized goldsmith and silversmith, initially proposed a petition to the State of New York for minting copper coins. After it got declined, Brasher still minted some samples of his copper and gold coins, complete with the signature EB hallmark.
As a result, only a few Brasher Doubloons were struck, and over time, they became one of the most valuable coins in history.
4. 1861 Paquet Liberty Head double eagle
Estimated value: $7.2M
The 1861 Paquet Liberty Head double eagle was a minting experiment that unexpectedly became a part of treasures. In 1860, Anthony C. Paquet, the assistant engraver at the U.S. Mint, designed a new reverse for the double eagle coin. However, concerns about its durability due to the thin rim led to the decision to cancel the minting.
A telegraph was sent to halt the process, but the message arrived too late, and the coins—valued at $385,000—had already been struck. These pieces were overlooked until their rediscovery in the 1930s.
5. 1903 Fengtien Tael
Estimated value: $5M
The 1903 Fengtien Tael is an extremely rare Chinese coin, minted during the Qing Dynasty. This coin is highly prized due to its historical significance, as it was minted during a transitional period in Chinese numismatics in the early 20th century, when China was grappling with a major reformation of its currency.
The mint of the 1903 Fengtien Tael, the Fengtien Machine Bureau, also added the coin’s rarity and value as it was later destroyed during the Sino-Russian War.
6. 1913 Liberty Head Nickel
Estimated value: $5M
The 1913 Liberty Head Nickel is a famous example of an error coin in history, as it was minted illegally. Created by a mint worker named William Johnson, the coin used the design of the 1912 Liberty Head Nickel.
Today, only five known specimens of the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel exist, making it one of the most coveted rarities in American numismatics.
7. The 723 Umayyad Gold Dinar
Estimated value: $5M
The 723 Umayyad Gold Dinar is known as an ancient coin minted during the Umayyad Caliphate, marking a major significance of the Islamic empire. This 4.25-gram pure gold coin is highly celebrated for its exceptional craftsmanship, with each side featuring an Arab inscription.
The most valuable coins listed above are treasured for their rarity, historical importance, and demand from collectors. If you’re into similarly historic topics, it might inspire you to check out one of the biggest historical mysteries.
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