In this article, you will learn the stories of the most expensive coins in the world, sold at the highest price. A coin (from lat. moneta) is a banknote made of metal or other material and having a certain shape, weight and denomination. In addition to expensive high-class coins, there are other types of them: widely circulated exchange, collectible, commemorative, investment. The most common way to make them is chasing, but the shape is usually a regular circle.
We all know very well that there are very expensive coins in the world, but only a few in their assumptions are able to approach the figure displayed on their price tag. Even a millionaire can often boast of just one such coin, especially if his copy is one of the following.
1. DOUBLE EAGLE
This rare coin is the most expensive in the world, its price is $7,900,000. Of course it is made of gold. And although it was put into circulation relatively recently, in the 30s of the twentieth century, and its face value was $ 20, it is truly unique.
The reason lies in the following: just at that time in the United States they decided to abandon the use of coins containing precious metals. The double eagles were taken out of circulation and melted down, but some survived. There remained a dozen copies minted in the spring of 1933, which were stolen from the treasury of the Ministry of Finance. The authorities intervened. The US intelligence agencies did a great job, and they managed to return 9 of them, however, one coin disappeared without a trace.
It was discovered half a century later in London. This rarity was acquired for his collection by the English millionaire Stephen Fenton. But one day he arrived in New York with his coin, where he was safely arrested by the American authorities. Five years lasted for his legal vicissitudes against the inflexible US government. By the way, the court decision turned out to be very original: the coin was recognized as state property of the United States, while the Briton was allowed to sell it, and keep the money thus earned.
2. DOWN HAIR
.The second most valuable coin on our list is a dollar called Loose Hair. The date of its issue is 1794, the metal is pure silver. According to the latest information, it was purchased by a new owner for $7,850,000. In general, the 1974 Loose Hair series of coins has long been known in the United States (and throughout the world too) as the source of the most expensive copies. It is worth noting that the sale of this rarity was carried out officially between the numismatic association of the city of Irvine Rare Coin Wholesalers and the Cardinal Collection Education Foundation.
3. FLORIN EDWARD III
This coin is the rarest representative of ancient coins. She has another name – “Double Leopard”. These double florins were in use in 1343-44 and had a denomination of 6 shillings. Its price at Spink’s auction reached a fantastic figure of $6,800,000. Note that that Edward III is one of three existing coins similar to him, made in 1343.
4. HEAD OF LIBERTY V
This coin, which has a denomination of only 5 cents, was able to pick up in price at the auction, and was sold for $4,150,000. Not bad at all, is it? An ordinary man in the town of Merimak, New Hampshire, probably could not imagine, when he decided to sell his nickel, how this amazing story would end. The thing is that this is one of the 5 surviving Freedom Heads, which was born in 1913. That happens sometimes too.
Today, the owner is the company Legend Numismatics, located in New Jersey.
A five-cent coin depicting the head of the Statue of Liberty was issued in the years 1883-1912 in the United States. In 1913, instead of the head of the statue, they began to mint the image of the head of an Indian, however, 5 types of Liberty Heads were still made. Essentially illegal. And so they instantly turned into a numismatic rarity of unprecedented value. Its owner can be compared to the owner of a diamond mine.
5. SMALL SILVER DOLLAR CLASS I
And again the representative of the United States. There is no escape, because the financial system of this power was managed so carelessly that it allowed the birth of a large number of future rare artifacts.
Copies of the 34th year of this type of coins remained only in the amount of 8 pieces. Their uniqueness also lies in the fact that they were issued on the occasion of the anniversary of the King of Siam, a great numismatist, who even at one time received the nickname “King of Coins”. The last time the final price of this coin at auction was 4,140,000 US$. Let’s add one more thing – then the same person bought the rest of the collection of the late king, who had such an unusual hobby for his high position.
