The Rarest Coins in the World (2024)

Finding a rare coin such as a three-legged buffalo nickel or a quarter crafted from silver can be exciting finds. But these coins blow them out of the water with values in excess of a million dollars. In fact, some are so rare that they’ve eclipsed eight figures in value! Coins become rare for a variety of reasons, including political and controversial minting. Here are some of the rarest coins the world has to offer.

1804 Silver Dollar, Class I

This coin is often called the “King of U.S. Coins,” and for good reason—there are only fifteen known specimens of this silver coin in the world. Struck in 1834, 30 years after its dating, this coin was minted as a gift for Asian rulers during trade envoy visits. In 1999, one of these coins sold for $4,140,000.

Check out our list of other rare US coins as well!

1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar

One of only 1,758 coins minted, this Flowing Hair Silver Dollar sold for $6,600,000 at auction in August of 2021. It is believed that that only a handful of the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollars exist in the world today, so a coin in this condition is extremely rare and obviously valuable. Due to the rarity and underlining value, this coin is one of the more often replicated, or counterfeited coin that dealers get calls about across the United States and abroad.

1933 Saint Gaudens – Double Eagle

The U.S. Mint began producing Saint Gaudens gold coins in 1933, but ceased doing so and subsequently melted all but a handful of the coins in response to Executive Order (EO) 6102 signed into law by then President, Theodore Roosevelt. The EO banned U.S. citizens from owning gold coins and required individuals to exchange their gold coins for paper currency. The gold coins were subsequently melted down by the government. While it was never the intention of the U.S. Mint to release these coins, a few somehow made their way out of the mint’s vaults. The most valuable of these coins sold for a record $18.9 million in 2021.

1343 Edward III Florin

Although this British coin was valued at around 6 shillings when it was first minted, it’s no surprise that it has accrued substantial value over the past 670 years. Because there are only three of these foreign coins known to exist, it is one of the rarest coins there is and is valued at $6.8 million.

1787 Brasher Doubloon

Many coin collectors have goals to collect specific coin types, such as doubloons. But casual collectors will have a hard time saving up for this extremely rare example. When the minter Ephraim Brasher was declined after petitioning New York State to mint a new set of coins, he decided to mint them anyway. Although he crafted many in bronze, he created some in gold, the latter of which became some of the rarest coins in the U.S., and even in the world. A Wall Street investment firm recently bought one of these doubloons for $7.4 million.

1913 Liberty Head Nickel

It’s not common for such recently made coins to have been minted without the approval of the U.S. Mint. That’s why this nickel is one of the rarest coins in existence, known as the King of 20th Century Coinage. In fact, only five of these nickels were produced. They’re all specimen proof coins and are sought after by the wealthiest collectors in the world. The most expensive one sold for $4.56 million in 2018. Another more recent auction realized prices of over $4 million as well. One day this coin may go for as much as eight figures!

In Summary

With coins as rare as these, many are lucky to ever see them. If so, you’re more likely to see them at a museum or national coin show, as opposed to in your pocket change. While most coins won’t pull in multi-millions, moderately rare coins can fetch a significant amount.

If you live in the Atlanta area, —we can help you navigate the market. Have some coins that you think might be valuable? Learn more about how we determine the value of your coins. Give us a call today or request an appointment online!