The Ten Most Valuable Coins in the United States

When folks come into PGS Gold & Coin to sell their coins, the number one thing they want to know of course is how valuable are their coins.  The next thing they want to know is what are the most valuable coins in the United States.  We thought we would share that information with everyone else as well.

According to PCGS, the following coins listed below are the most valuable coins in the United States. However don’t go digging through your coin jar just yet looking for them……5 are owned by the Smithsonian and  the other 5 are held by private collectors.

1849 $20 Liberty gold piece, PR64 (PCGS estimated grade) – $20,000,000. The first $20 gold piece struck at the U.S. Mint. This piece is struck in proof and is unique. This incredible piece of numismatic history is in the Smithsonian Institution.

1907 Indian Head $20 St. Gaudens gold pattern, PR69 (PCGS estimated grade) – $15,000,000. This unique gold pattern was designed by famed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. It marries Saint-Gaudens’ $10 Indian Head obverse design to his $20 reverse design. Some numismatists refer to this coin as “Teddy’s coin” in reference to President Theodore Roosevelt’s involvement in coaxing Saint-Gaudens to redesign our nation’s $10 and $20 gold pieces.

1877 gold pattern $50 (J-1546) PR67 (estimated grade) – $15,000,000. This is the famous “Half Union” pattern $50 gold piece. It is unique and in the Smithsonian Institution.

1877 gold pattern $50 (J-1548) PR67 (estimated grade) – $15,000,000. A variation on the design of the $50 gold pattern listed above. This one is also unique and in the Smithsonian Institution.

1907 Double Thick Extremely High Relief $20 St. Gaudens, PR69 (estimated grade) – $8,500,000 (two coins). Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ “Extremely High Relief” design for the $20 gold piece is arguably the most beautiful coin ever made. Saint-Gaudens’ design was struck in several variations including two examples that were smaller in diameter and “double thick.” Both of these “double thick” gold patterns are in the Smithsonian Institution.

1794 Silver dollar, SP66 (PCGS grade) – $7,850,000. Silver dollars were first struck in 1794 and this is believed by some to be the very first one struck. It changed hands in 2010 for $7,850,000.

1804 Silver dollar, “Original” or Class I, PR68 (PCGS grade) – $7,500,000. The 1804 silver dollar is one of the most famous United States coins. A small handful of these coins were struck (actually beginning in 1834 and back-dated) for presentation to dignitaries including the King of Siam and the Sultan of Muscat. The finest is the Sultan of Muscat-Virgil Brand-Walter Childs specimen graded PR68 by PCGS and now in a private collection.

1804 Silver dollar, “Original” or Class I, PR67 (PCGS grade) – $6,500,000. This is the specimen in the still-intact King of Siam proof set.

1822 $5 gold piece, EF45 (estimated grade) – $6,000,000. There were 17,796 $5 gold pieces struck in 1822, but only three survive today. Two are now in the Smithsonian Institution and this coin, the finest of the three, is now in a private collection. This coin was last sold in the October, 1982 auction of the Louis Eliasberg gold coin collection where it realized a then-record $687,500.

To learn more about these coins visit PCGS Million Dollar Coin Club, by clicking here.

PGS Gold & Coin  is locally owned and operated in Palatine, Illinois. PGS Gold & Coin is a gold exchange company that was started with the goal of providing consumers a trusted, safe and convenient way to sell their unwanted gold, platinum, coins, diamonds, and silver for cash.

PGS Gold & Coin’s mission is to provide our customers with “Fair Market Value” in exchange for any unwanted Rare Coins, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Diamond, Jewelry and Collectables! We strive to deliver the highest quality of customer service each and every day. PGS Gold & Coin is locally owned & family operated since 2008. PGS has become one of the most professional and trusted Rare Coin, and Precious Metals Dealers in the area. We are a Certified Coin Dealer by PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service), NGC( Numismatic Guaranty Corporation), and PMG (Paper Money Grading). We are a proud sponsor of the ANA (American Numismatic Association) and have a BBB (Better Business Bureau) A+ rating.

For more information on PGS Gold & Coin, call us directly at one of our two locations.  847-348-6447 (Palatine, IL) or 630-868-3412 (Wheaton, IL) or visit our website at www.pgsgoldandcoin.com.