Expensive Coins
The coins worth collecting are truly rare United States, rare World, and rare Ancient coins. Collecting coins is like collecting rare artwork, classic automobiles, or high-end real estate. You should search for the most unique coins that have a fixed and limited supply and are the absolute finest coins available in the best condition.
Take a closer look before you dump that handful of pennies and nickels into the tip jar — you don't need to find a Revolutionary War-era coin to make a fortune from your change.
They're harder to find each year, but there are several valuable coins floating around that aren't all that old. They're often valuable for vastly different reasons — like the World War II-era coins minted from atypical metals, or double-printed pennies — but each one is easy to miss if you're not paying attention.
- This coin is exceedingly rare. The Secret Service confiscated the early specimens until the U.S. Mint admitted they were genuine. Counterfeits abound but usually have the wrong mint mark. In May 2014, a mother in Texas found one while going through rolls of coins. PCGS graded the coin AU-55, and it is valued at approximately $24,000.
- Collecting Old Coins for Value and Enjoyment The history of old rare coins and currency is vast and important. Monetary and currency changes have taken place during major world events.
See also: Californian Couple Finds $10 Million Worth of Gold Coins in Tin Can
Check out these eight coins that are worth a lot more than their intended value.
1. 2004 Wisconsin state quarter with extra leaf
Value: Up to $300
Find an average Wisconsin state quarter from 2004, and that will get you one-fourth of a bag of chips. Find one with either the high or low leaf error, and you can get a whole lot more.
The 50 State Quarters series ran from 1999 until 2008, with special designs representing each state. Wisconsin's quarter came out in 2004; the reverse design features a cow, a wheel of cheese and a partially husked ear of corn lurking in the back.
However, some the coins have an extra line below the front left leaf, which looks like another leaf entirely. There are two varieties you should be looking out for: the high leaf and low leaf.
2. 1995 double die penny
Value: $20 - $50
Megaprojects
This penny has a double-printed obverse (heads side) that makes the 'LIBERTY' and 'IN GOD WE TRUST' look blurry. The error has happened before, in 1969 and 1972, and those versions of the coins are much more valuable.
3. 1942-1945 silver nickel
Value: 56 cents - $12.25
During World War II, the United States needed to save as much nickel as possible for military uses. Consequently, it started minting nickels made of 35% silver. Melting down pennies and nickels is a federal offense, but the coin might still fetch you enough for a decent lunch, if it's in good condition.
4. 1943 steel penny
Value: 45 cents - $10
Pennies were made from steel during wartime, for the same reasons nickels were made partially from silver — steel pennies helped preserve copper for World War II. However, the switch only lasted one year.
5. Ben Franklin half-dollar
Value: $12 - $125
In 1948, the U.S. mint began circulating half-dollar coins with images of Ben Franklin and an eagle — which is funny, considering Franklin opposed the bald eagle's nomination as the nation's bird, in favor of a wild turkey.
Franklin's portrait on the coin was replaced by John F. Kennedy in 1964, following the president's 1963 assassination.
6. 1932-1964 silver quarter
Value: $7 - $65
Between 1932 and 1964, quarters were 90% silver and 10% copper. These silver quarters look like any pre-state quarter 25-cent piece, but are worth a lot more if they're in the right condition.
7. 'In God We Rust' 2005 Kansas state quarter
Value: Up to $100
While it might seem like a mint employee's rogue political statement, these coins are actually just the result of grease preventing a clean pressing.
8. Presidential dollar coin with lettering errors
Value: $20 - $45
In 2007, the U.S. Mint began printing a series of dollar coins featuring presidents. Many of the early coins, especially those with George Washington, have errant or missing lettering along the edge of the coin.
- The Top 25 Most Valuable U.S. Half Dollars
This list of most valuable half dollars includes many pieces from the 19th century, which was a time when the denomination represented a huge chunk of a day’s wages. Back in those days, the half dollar was a coin that often saw heavy usage – a situation quite opposite from today. Half dollars are not commonly encountered much anymore. Once a staple of U.S. currency, the 50-cent piece has become something of a novelty in recent decades. One reason this may be the case has to do with the advent of the Kennedy Half Dollar, which was first struck in 1964 in honor of the beloved 35th president John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated on November 22, 1963. Millions of people saved the 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar to the point that the coin became scarce in circulation. Over time, Americans became accustomed to saving half dollars so it became more of a novelty worthy of saving rather than spending.
Expensive Coins In Circulation
The half dollars in this list are generally from the Bust and Seated Liberty coin series, which have multiple scarce dates and are in high demand by coin collectors. Only one coin among the Top 10 most valuable half dollars was made in the 20th century, and several among the top represent the Draped Bust half dollars from the turn of the 19th century. One piece among the Top 10 most valuable half dollars is the 1794 Flowing Hair half dollar – the first official 50 cent piece ever made by the U.S. Mint.
Expensive Coins
All of the coin values listed below are for pieces grading Good-4 on the Sheldon Grading Scale, unless otherwise noted. All of coins without mint marks were minted at the Philadelphia Mint.
Expensive Coins To Collect
1838-O Proof Capped Bust Half Dollar: $250,000 – Only 20 1838-O half dollars were made, and they were all struck as proof coins. This Capped Bust half dollar circulated for a time, and the remaining 1838-O specimens are found in circulated grades, with the astronomical price listed here for an Extremely Fine-40 Grade example. The “O” mint mark is for the New Orleans Mint which was open from 1838 to 1861 then again from 1879 to 1909.
1817/4 Capped Bust Half Dollar: $60,000 – It’s safe to say that few type coin collectors would ever think of shelling out 60 grand to buy an example of the rare 1817/4 half dollar in the mere grade of Good-4, but this coin to Bust half dollar collectors is a cherished treasure that is one of several dozen interesting varieties in the series.
1796 16 obverse stars Draped Bust Half Dollar: $39,500 – Among the tiny mintage of just 3,918 for all 1796 half dollar was the 16 stars obverse Draped Bust Half Dollar. To accommodate a growing nation, stars were often added to retooled dies to properly represent the number of states in the Union, which added Tennessee in 1796.
1797 Draped Bust Half Dollar: $36,700 – All the early half dollars are rare, and the 1797 half dollar is no exception. In fact, the 1797 half dollar mintage is incorporated into the 3,918 mintage figure associated with the 1796 half dollar. Few 1797 half dollars exist, so one in any condition is a numismatic prize to be treasured.
1796 15 obverse stars Draped Bust Half Dollar: $36,500 – Minted before Tennessee joined the Union on June 1, 1796, the 15 star obverse variety is rare simply because it’s among the early half dollars, of which few were minted. The number of 15-star obverse half dollars is included in the overall mintage of 1796 halves, which stood at 3,918. Remember, the number of surviving pieces is tiny. In fact, it’s believed that less than 10 percent of all Draped Bust Half Dollars from 1796 and 1797 still exist in total, across all grades.
1878-S Liberty Seated Half Dollar: $28,500 – Of the 12,000 half dollars struck in 1878 at the San Francisco Mint, perhaps only 60 still exist today across all grades. Many were melted, and many others were simply worn down beyond recognition or otherwise lost to the effects of time.
1806 knobbed stem through claw Draped Bust Half Dollar: $20,000 – As we know, not many numismatists pay much attention to collecting the early varieties as they are simply to expensive to collect. But for those who do want examples of the early die variations, the 1806 knobbed stem through claw Draped Bust Half Dollar is worth a princely sum indeed. Very few survive today.
1873 open “3” Seated Liberty Half Dollar: $3,550 – Perhaps only 150 specimens of this variety exist today, making the 1873 closed 3 half dollar a real collector’s treasure. The “closed” 3 variety, by the way, looks much like the number “8.”
1794 Flowing Hair Half Dollar: $2,850 – It may be surprising to some that the first half dollar ever made barely even clinched a spot among the Top 10 most valuable half dollars, but here it is in 9th place, at least in terms of its price in a grade of Good-4. While extremely rare, a 1794 half dollar is a coin that thankfully survives in large enough numbers to satisfy the demands of a several hundred numismatists or so at any one time.
1892-O micro “O” Barber Half Dollar: $2,250 – A Barber coin rounds out this list of the 10 most valuable half dollars. The micro “O” half dollar variety does enjoy a large amount of attention from the numismatic community, especially as the Barber Half Dollar series is widely collected by date and mint mark, placing much demand on a coin with relatively little supply. The “O” mint mark is for the New Orleans Mint which was open from 1838 to 1861 then again from 1879 to 1909.
What follows are the 11th through 25th most valuable half dollars, which are all listed at prices corresponding to a grade of Good-4.
1830 large letter reverse Capped Bust Half Dollar: $1,500
1870-CC Seated Liberty Half Dollar: $1,450
1815/2 Capped Bust Half Dollar: $1,100
1795 Flowing Hair Half Dollar: $1,025
1802 Draped Bust Half Dollar: $900
1878-CC Seated Liberty Half Dollar: $900
1801 Draped Bust Half Dollar: $850
1836 Capped Bust Half Dollar: $800
1874-CC Seated Liberty Half Dollar: $775
1812 single leaf below wing Capped Bust Half Dollar: $750
1842-O small date Seated Liberty Half Dollar: $650
1844/1844-O Seated Liberty Half Dollar: $500
1866-S Seated Liberty Half Dollar: $485
1887 Seated Liberty Half Dollar: $475
1807 bearded goddess Capped Bust Half Dollar: $450