The world's most coveted coins: Treasures beyond face value
Not every coin is worth as much as its face value suggests. Its value is determined by the precious metal it is made of, its history, and its level of uniqueness. Here are some of the most expensive coins in the world.
Collectors can pay millions of dollars to add another unique coin to their collection. In 2021, the world's most expensive coin became the gold "Double Eagle" minted by the USA in 1933. The coin was sold for $18.87 (£14.5) million.
Double Eagle — £14.5 million
According to President Roosevelt's decree forbidding the hoarding of gold, the entire issue of this coin was destroyed. The only example that was ever legally privately owned belonged, among others, to King Farouk of Egypt. Hence the enormous value of this unique item.
Flowing Hair Dollar — £9.2 million
The exceptionally rare Flowing Hair Dollar was minted in 1794. According to numismaticnews.net, it is widely regarded as the first silver dollar minted by the United States. It features symbols of the country — the so-called Liberty Lady and the American eagle among olive branches. In 2013, the coin was sold for £9.2 million.
The Brasher Doubloon — £7.3 million
The Brasher Doubloon was auctioned in the United States for £7.3 million. Dating from the late 18th century, it has been among the most sought-after coins on the American numismatic market for over 100 years. The item, sold on 21 January 2021, found a buyer via telephone. However, the identity of the new owner was not disclosed.
This numismatic piece is commonly regarded as the oldest gold coin issued in the USA, but it was not issued by the American government. Consequently, it never constituted legal tender in the United States or any other country. Its creator was Ephraim Brasher, who marked his coins with initials.
Half Eagle — £6.5 million
The American five-dollar coin (Half Eagle) from 1822 was sold for £6.5 million at an auction in Las Vegas. This is the first gold coin struck by the United States government. Half Eagle coins were used in the USA from 1795 to 1929.
The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle — £5.9 million
An American gold coin with a denomination of 20 US dollars, designed by American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Currently, there are only three authenticated examples of the 1933 Double Eagle in world collections.
Two are owned by the US government, and the third is in the hands of a private investor. This example was auctioned at Sotheby's in 2002 and sold for £5.9 million. The buyer remained anonymous.
Edward III Florin — £5.3 million
Another extremely valued coin by collectors is the Edward III Florin, minted in 1344. The coin is made of almost pure gold. Only three examples have survived. Two of them were discovered in 1857 and are currently in the collections of the British Museum. The third example was found in 2006 and was auctioned by Spink, where it was sold for £5.3 million.
Liberty Head Nickel — £2.9 million
The five-cent coin was designed in 1883 by Charles Barber and was officially minted until 1912. However, there was a batch of counterfeit examples from 1913. To date, only five such coins have been found, granting the Liberty Head Nickel the status of an inauthentic but exceptionally valuable specimen. In 2010, one of these counterfeits went up for auction in Florida, where it was sold for over £2.9 million.
