The sound of loose change in your pocket may not feel like much to you, but tucked away among ordinary coins could be jaw-dropping treasures.
Some coins have had a history so storied that they have become legendary collectibles, bringing millions to the right buyer over the years.
The numismatic world — the world of coin collectors and enthusiasts — rarely is so kind, but periodically erupts with joy when one of these rarities comes up for sale at auction.
1. 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar – $10 Million
Known as the “Holy Grail” of American coins, the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar is the first silver dollar struck by the United States.
When a perfect specimen went under the hammer in 2013, it broke records, fetching a staggering $10 million. So rare, in fact, experts think this specific coin may have been the first-ever silver dollar struck by the U.S. Mint, making it not only rare, but highly significant historically.
The obverse depicts Lady Liberty with flowing hair, while the reverse displays an eagle. Fewer than 1,758 were ever made, and many fewer still exist today.
A combination of historic importance and extreme rarity is a recipe for astronomical value.
2. 1933 Double Eagle – $7.6 Million
The story of the 1933 Double Eagle sounds like a thriller novel. Most 1933 Double Eagles were melted after President Franklin D. Roosevelt outlawed gold ownership during the Great Depression and before they ever entered circulation. Somehow, a few had survived the purge.
For decades, the government treated any 1933 Double Eagle still in private hands as stolen property.
After years of legal fighting, one legally acquired specimen went for $7.6 million in 2002 and again for nearly $19 million in 2021, setting a record for the highest price paid for a coin at auction.
The obverse side of the coin features Lady Liberty holding a torch and olive branch, and an eagle in flight on the reverse. Its troubled past only adds to its mystique and worth.
3. The 1787 Brasher Doubloon – $7.4 Million
Before the U.S. Mint was established, private individuals would sometimes mint their own coins.
The Brasher Doubloon was one of the early coins minted in the United States, made in 1787 by New York goldsmith Ephraim Brasher, who lived near George Washington.
The beauty of this coin is its unique mark of Brasher himself: his initials “EB” punched into the wing of the eagle. Only seven examples are known to survive, the best of which sold for $7.4 million in 2011.
The coin’s association with the nation’s founding era and its extreme rarity make it one of the nation’s most valuable numismatic treasures.
4. The 1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar – $4.1 Million
The 1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, however, isn’t what it seems — even though it is dated 1804, the coins weren’t actually struck until the 1830s, when the State Department produced special diplomatic gift sets for foreign leaders.
There are just 15 original specimens known, separated into three distinct categories by the period they were issued.
The obverse of the coin portrays a bust of Liberty with long flowing hair while the reverse depicts those iconic eagle wings. The best-preserved example sold in 2021 for $4.1 million.
Those dollars rank among the most famous, and valuable, in American numismatics because of their enigmatic production history and the extreme rarity of the coins.
5. 1913 Liberty Head Nickel – $4.5 million
The story of the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel is a detective novel in itself. These coins are not supposed to exist at all, officially.
The Mint had transitioned to the Buffalo nickel design by 1913, though five Liberty Head nickels dated that year somehow showed up decades later.
Most experts say they were struck surreptitiously by a Mint worker. One such infamous nickel fetched $4.5 million in 2018.
Their unknown origins and transactions in three-digit numbers have made them the stuff of legends among collectors.
6. $6.8 Million — The 1343 Edward III Florin
Even valuable coins don’t all come from America. The 1343 Edward III Florin, or “Double Leopard,” is one of medieval England’s rarest treasures.
For centuries historians knew these coins existed only by reading written records until one was discovered by a metal detectorist in 2006.
There are just three known examples, one of which sold at auction for £460,000 (around $6.8 million in today’s money).
The gold coin has King Edward III seated on his throne on one face and leopards on the reverse side, making it historically significant and artistically impressive.
7. 723 Umayyad Gold Dinar – $4.8 Million
Islamic coins seldom hit headlines in Western auction houses — the 723 Umayyad Gold Dinar is an exceptionally rare exception.
Struck from the gold taken from the Caliph’s own mine, the coin reads “Mine of the Commander of the Faithful” in Arabic.
And its pristine condition and historical significance fetched a record-setting sale of $4.8 million in 2019. It truly is a numismatic marvel given both the coin’s association with the early Islamic caliphate and its remarkable state of preservation after 1,300 years.
8. $3.8 Million — 1907 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Ultra High Relief
In practicing art coins sometimes they achieve legendary status. The 1907 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Ultra High Relief: President Theodore Roosevelt’s personal mission of beautifying American coinage.
The coins were designed by the famed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and they sported a phenomenal relief that proved impractical for mass production.
Struck in so-called “ultra high relief,” only about 20 of the pattern coins were made, one of which sold for $3.8 million in 2021. Their limited production and artistic significance makes them coveted masterpieces.
9. 1943 Bronze Lincoln Penny — $1.7 Million
Sometimes the best coins come from mistakes. During World War II, the U.S. Mint produced pennies from zinc-coated steel instead of copper to reserve copper for the war effort.
But some copper blanks got stuck in the presses, and copper 1943 pennies were made.
These error coins — of which fewer than 20 are known — have sold for as much as $1.7 million. Their wartime association and extreme scarcity make them some of the most sought-after error coins in the world.
10. 1834 King of Siam Proof Set — $8.5 Million
In 1834 President Andrew Jackson commissioned special diplomatic gifts for the King of Siam (what is now Thailand).
The resulting proof set included the finest of all the U.S. coins the Mint was producing, including the legendary 1804 dollar.
The full set, offered in its original custom presentation box, brought $8.5 million in 2005.
More than the monetary value, this set marks an interesting crossroads between American diplomacy and numismatic history.
11. 1838 Gobrecht Silver Dollar Pattern – $1.5 Million
Notably, the Gobrecht dollars mark a transitional stage in the design of American coins.
The Gobrecht coins, named for their designer, Christian Gobrecht, have Liberty seated on a rock on the obverse and a flying eagle on the reverse.
There are only around 25 known examples from 1838, and the finest example can sell for around $1.5 million.
Their quality packaging and low-volume makes them a well sought after item amongst collectors of the serious variety.
12. 1974 Aluminum Penny — Up to Millions
All valuable coins are not ancient. In 1974, as copper prices surged, the U.S. Mint tried out aluminum pennies.
The project was eventually shelved and most of the examples were destroyed.
But some examples were saved from obliteration. The government argues these coins are still the property of the federal government, making their ownership illegal.
One returned example was brought back to the Mint in 2016 after nearly selling for millions. Their recent origin and controversial legal status make them especially captivating for numismatists.
Is This Coin In Your Stash? Hidden Value
As million-dollar coins make the news, many other rare coins command handsome prices far closer to the budgets of typical collectors. Dig through your change jar to find these potential treasures:
Double Die Lincoln Penny (1955): Value up to $15,000 due to a striking error that left the image doubled
– 1916-D Mercury Dime: $10,000+ in Good condition because of low mintage
1932-D Washington Quarter: Key date in the series worth several thousand dollars
1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny: Worth $1,000+ because of designer’s initials controversy
1970-S Small Date Lincoln Penny: Worth hundreds or thousands condition dependent
The magic of coin collecting is not only in what they might be worth but the actual history each coin brings — in your hands.
Every coin has a story to tell — one of artistic achievement, political upheaval, economic circumstances and sometimes just plain human error.
Even if you never come across that million-dollar rarity, learning to recognize numismatic pocket change can turn every handful of pennies and nickels into an adventure in historical exploration.