Numismatic enthusiasts are always on the hunt for the next little and round treasure to include in their collection. Today’s post is dedicated to all the collectors and those who aspire to become one, so read on to find out about some rare and valuable coins to be actively searching for.
5 valuable coins in the world
1. Kansas State Quarter (2005) – “IN GOD WE RUST”
Due to the everyday activity of the coin die, grease started to build upon its surface so, when stamping the coin, the “T” was already clogged so the full word “TRUST” was not printed. Mistakes like this are not the norm but they are not rare either; what’s definitely eye-catching is the funny game of words that such manufacturing defect produced.
Approximate value of the coin: $100
2. 2 Sterling Pounds – European Football Championship
To commemorate the UEFA European Football Championship taking place in England during 1966, the country issued a badge of 2 sterling pounds that featured carved lines that visually transformed the metallic surface into a soccer ball.
Although plenty of these coins are being auctioned on eBay for a very low price, there is a special group of 2 sterling pounds that were minted inaccurately: they don’t show the correct date and are flat. These flawed coins are worth more due to their rare error.
Potential value of the coin: £1,700
3. Silver Dollar (1794) – Flowing Hair
Many factors come together to transform this piece of metal into one of the most valuable coins in the world. According to numismatics experts, it’s probable that this was the first coin minted by the Federal Government of the United States in 1794.
The designer, Robert Scot, had to be extra careful when engraving the silver dollar since it was the largest coin in the country. It features a bust of Liberty on one side and an eagle on the other one, and only 1800 coins were produced.
The value of the silver dollar skyrocketed when an expert assured that only a minimum of 120 and a maximum of 130 silver dollars depicting flowing hair remained. In 2013, the silver dollar was auctioned for more than $10 million.
Value of the coin: $47,148 without certificate
4. The Umayyad Gold Dinar (723)
This relic made of gold dates to 723, presumably struck in Syria, in the city of Damascus. Part of its value lies in the place the precious metal comes from: the Ma`din Bani Sulaim in Saudi Arabia. The coins are branded as “mine of the commander of the faithful”. No other Islamic coin minted before 723 had ever mentioned a location.
The Umayyad Gold Dinar is unique since only 12 examples are still preserved. It was sold in 2011 for $6 million in an auction, becoming the second most expensive coin in history.
Value of the coin: $6 million (2011 auction value)
5. Greek 2 Euro (2002)
Every collector has to be aware that scams and mistakes are, unfortunately, not rare. Whether this was an honest error or an intentional scam, in 2002 a seller tried to sell the Greek 2 euro on eBay Germany for 80,000 euros. The particularity of this coin is that it, supposedly, was minted with a typing mistake: one of the 12 stars has an S.
The coin with the S may be a little harder to find than other versions, but it was intentionally issued with a carved S by the Finnish institution on behalf of Greece.
Value of the coin: $20 is the average price on eBay
Ready to hunt for any of these rare and valuable collector items? Foreign Currency & Coin Exchange offers a broad range of coins from all around the world, as well as unique and collectible banknotes. Plenty of members of the numismatic community visit as daily to buy or sell their items, visit our online store!