Coins are an essential part of history and the story of American coins is actually the story of America itself. Over the years, coins have proved to be tremendous pieces of art. They have great value and command respect. You can own a piece to own a bit of history of the US. Most of the coins are pretty high-valued and collectible items.
1. 1861 Coronet Twenty Dollar Gold piece:
Only a few of these coins were ever produced and put into circulation. Their production had been halted by the US Mint because of some late-breaking design revisions. Yet a few of the coins were put into circulation by authorities who didn’t receive word until too late. Two examples are known to exist and one is valued at 5.6 million dollars.
2. 1870-S Three Dollar Gold piece:
This special coin was minted to be sealed into the cornerstone of the San Francisco Mint building at the corner of Fifth and Mission streets. This happened in 1870 and records reveal that only one specimen was made. Yet in 1982, another one surfaced and fetched $687,500 at an auction. Time has driven up its value and today it is valued at a whopping two and a half million dollars.
3. 1849 Coronet Twenty Dollar Gold piece:
This special coin was the first US double eagle that is $20 gold piece. It was produced as a direct result of the California Gold Rush. It holds great historical significance. Only one specimen is known to exist today and it is not available for sale to collectors. It is safely locked away in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institute. It is rumored that this coin can fetch four million dollars if made available for an auction.
4. 1873-CC Liberty Seated dime:
This one is a great artifact of the Wild West. It was issued from the Carson City Mint as its most valuable coin. Today it is valued at just over two and a half million dollars a copy.
5. 1804 Ten Dollar Gold piece:
The strange thing about this coin is that only ten were ever produced. Three of them are known to exist even today. What adds to the novelty is the fact that the coins were minted in 1834 that makes three decades after the date that is printed on the coin.
6. 1933 Saint-Gaudens Twenty Dollar Gold piece:
This coin was minted in 1933 but it could not be put into circulation because of changes in currency laws during the Great Depression. So they were converted into gold bullion bars. Yet one mint cashier had absconded with twenty of these coins and later sold them to collectors over the years. The US government confiscated them after getting hold of the news. Only two examples remain now, one with Egypt’s King Farouk and second at the Smithsonian Institute. A twist came in 2004 when ten more examples were unearthed. A legal case is going on between the heiress and the government.
7. 1885 ‘Trade’ Silver Dollar:
Only five copies of this coin were ever produced. Its designer was William Barber. In 2006, one copy was sold at an auction for 3.3 million dollars.
8. 1794 Silver Dollar:
This 1794 coin has inspired an entire book to be written about it. Today, this piece of early Americana is valued at 2.1 million dollars.
9. 1804 Silver Dollar:
The 1804 silver dollars are a rarity because only 19 were ever produced. Another strange fact about them is that they were actually minted in 1834 and not 1804. In 1834, the US government had decided to create these coins to present as gifts to Asian heads of states. This is the rarest and most beautiful designs out there. One copy can cost you as much as 47 million dollars.
10. 1913 Liberty Nickel:
These coins are shrouded in mystery because the coin was produced without the knowledge of the US Mint. Five specimens were produced in 1913, and later destroyed. It is clear that they had left the mint in some illegal fashion. The coins surfaced in 1920, and the US Treasury Department has made it legal if you want to own a piece. You will only have to pay about six million dollars to get your hands on one.
