10 Ultra Rare U.s. Coins Worth Millions | One Could Be In Your Pocket!

10 Of The Rarest & Most Valuable U.S. Coins

Did you know that some U.S. coins are worth millions of dollars? It’s true — and there’s a small chance one might be hiding in your collection!

Let’s explore 10 of the most valuable and rare U.S. coins ever discovered. These coins have each sold for over $1 million — and some for much more.

1. 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle

In 1933, the U.S. government stopped allowing citizens to own gold bullion. Around the same time, the U.S. Mint created $20 gold coins with a design by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Almost all were supposed to be destroyed, but a few slipped through.

One of these coins ended up with King Farouk of Egypt. After being missing for decades, the coin reappeared and was eventually sold at auction for a record-breaking $18.87 million in 2021.

2. 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar

This coin is believed to be the first silver dollar minted by the U.S. in 1794. In 2013, what is considered the very first one ever made sold for more than $10 million.

3. 1787 Brasher Doubloon

Created by goldsmith Ephraim Brasher in the early years of U.S. independence, this gold coin is extremely rare. One version sold for $9.36 million in 2021.

4. 1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar]

Though dated 1804, these coins were actually made in the 1830s as gifts for foreign leaders. Only 15 exist, and 8 of them are originals. Known as “The King of American Coins,” one sold for $4.14 million in 1999, and others continue to sell for over $1 million.

5. 1861 Paquet Reverse Double Eagle

This version of the $20 gold coin is rare due to its modified reverse design by Anthony Paquet. One sold for $1.61 million in 2006 and has since gone for over $7 million at auction.

6. 1885 Trade Silver Dollar

This mysterious coin isn’t officially documented by the U.S. Mint, and only five are known to exist. Legal to own, one sold for nearly $4 million in 2019.

7. 1913 Liberty Nickel

Only five of these nickels were ever made under unusual circumstances. One sold in 1996 for nearly $1.5 million, becoming the first coin to pass the $1 million mark at public auction. Today, they all sell for well over that amount.

8. 1894-S Barber Dime

With just 24 made in San Francisco and only a few surviving today, this dime is one of the most famous U.S. coin rarities. One fetched nearly $2 million in 2016.

9. 1854-S Liberty Head Half Eagle

Only 268 of these $5 gold coins were produced, and just three are known today. After one sold in 1982 for $187,000, another sale in 2018 brought in over $2.16 million.

10. 1822 Capped Bust Half Eagle

Only three are known to exist, and two are kept in the Smithsonian. The only one available to collectors sold in 2021 for a staggering $8.4 million.

Is It Possible to Find a Million-Dollar Coin Today?

We all hope to discover a rare coin worth a fortune. A single coin valued at millions could be life-changing — imagine buying a home, clearing debt, or even retiring early.

While it’s extremely unlikely to stumble upon one of these ultra-rare coins in your change, that doesn’t mean valuable coins aren’t out there. Most of the coins on this list are now tightly held by collectors or museums and wouldn’t be casually spent.

Even if one did enter circulation, most people wouldn’t recognize it, which could lead to it being lost or damaged. Realistically, a person who owned such a rare coin would auction it and use the proceeds for good — possibly donating the money to charity.

In fact, this has happened before. The collection of Harry W. Bass, Jr., a wealthy Texas businessman and coin collector, was on display for decades at the Money Museum in Colorado Springs. In 2022, his foundation sold the collection, using the proceeds to support charities in the Dallas area.

While you may never find a million-dollar coin in pocket change, many coins are still worth far more than face value. With a little luck and some knowledge, you just might come across a valuable coin in the wild.

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