Coin collecting may have been a niche hobby in times past, but an increased interest in numismatics — whether due to macroeconomic pressures creating a swell of people looking for a valuable and time-honored hedge against inflation or simply an uptick in exposure via live sales platforms such as WhatNot — has spurred an expansion of the secondary market.
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Which coins are among the most desirable? Here is a list of some serious coin contenders.
1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar
An American classic coin, this issuance was minted in 1794 and 1795, with an original face value of just $1. Despite that, its relative rarity — only about 150 are estimated to remain in existence, per PCGS — means that it commands a hefty premium. One SP (silver plug) version sold for over $10 million in 2013.
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1787 $15 Brasher, Breast Punch
Described as a “unique specimen and the first distinctive American gold coin… the most historical and important of all numismatic coins,” by numismatics expert Don Kagin, this particular coin drew nearly a whopping $3 million during a 2005 Heritage Auctions sale. Only one such coin is believed to have survived.
1787 Fugio Cent (aka Franklin Cent)
Ailie F. Byers, MPA and CFO at Centennial Auctions, spoke to the desirability and value of this coin.
“One of the earliest, if not the earliest, coins issued by the U.S., the 1787 Fugio Cent is steeped in history. Although records are sparse, this copper coin is widely regarded as the beginning of American coinage,” Byers said.
“Some historians believe Benjamin Franklin designed the coin. Auction prices vary widely, with lower-quality examples selling for around $200, while rare, high-grade specimens like an MS-64 with raised rims — Cross After Date — have sold for as much as $92,500,” she added.
5 Other Rare Coins Worth a Pretty Penny
In addition to the trio of coins detailed above, these five pieces are highly sought after and command a princely sum at auction whenever they appear.
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723 Umayyad Gold Dinar: This coin sold for nearly $5 million during a 2019 auction at Morton & Eden, according to Just Collecting.
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Barber Dime, 1894-S PR: Only 24 of these were ever minted, and only a surviving population of nine examples (all proof) are known to exist. In January of 2025, a PR66BM example sold for $2,160,000 via Heritage Auctions.
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1914-D Lincoln Wheat Cent: A key date as far as Lincoln wheat pennies are concerned, this mintage is a bit more affordable than others on this list. Gainesville Coins pegs the value of this coin, in good condition, at $175. PCGS has a high-grade example (MS66+RD) selling for nearly $160,000 during a 2018 Legend Rare Coin Auctions event.
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1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent: “This penny is famous for the initials of its designer, Victor David Brenner, which were controversially placed on the reverse,” Byers said. “Only 484,000 were minted in San Francisco, making it the lowest mintage of any Lincoln cent. The coin is categorized by color — brown, red-brown and red, with red being the most sought after. A low-grade brown 1909-S VDB might sell for around $800, while a high-grade MS65 in red can reach $8,000.”
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1849 $20 Liberty Gold Coin: With only one such coin currently definitively known to exist, housed within the Smithsonian, PCGS experts estimate its value at between $10 million and $25 million. A second example has been evidenced to exist, but its whereabouts remain unknown.