Top 10 Rare Coins Wanted By Collectors

Multi-million dollar coins get the headlines when they sell at major auctions, but there are many historically important coins that are attainable by serious numismatists who aren’t billionaires.

This list is taken from several areas of numismatics to show the breadth and scope of US coin collecting. Our overview of 20 rare and famous coins that serious collectors want covers the length and breadth of American numismatics, from the Colonial era to the 20th century.

While we’ve generally used the $1 million mark as the cutoff, many of these coins still fetch eye-watering prices (at least to us!). Setting aside “impossible dreams” like the 1933 Double Eagle, here are 20 rare coins that serious collectors want.

1. 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent

Auction Records: $6,600 BN; $19,200 RB; $117,500 RD

2. 1943 Lincoln Cent on Bronze Planchet

Auction Record: $372,000

3. 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo Nickel

Auction Record: $99,875

4. 1893-S Morgan Dollar

Auction Record: $2,086,875

5. 1895 Proof Morgan Dollar

Auction Record: $150,000

6. 1921 High Relief Peace Dollar

Auction Record: $132,000

7. 1916 Type 1 Standing Liberty Quarter

Auction Record: $48,300

8. 1919-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar

Auction Record: $48,300

1856 Flying Eagle Cent

Auction Record: $172,500

10. 1916-D Mercury Dime

Auction Records: $29,000; $207,000 Full Bands