Many people collect coins; it’s a hobby that’s been around for years. And it’s no surprise, considering some rare coins are valued at millions of dollars, the most expensive coin ever sold is the “Saint Gaudens” Double Eagle, minted in 1933. It sold in 2021 for a massive $18,872.250.
Of course, most super rare coins are already in someone’s collection and don’t go up for sale very often. However, there are still a lot of valuable coins in circulation. You can find all denominations of valuable coins, from pennies to dollar coins, and many have some type of minting error.
All the coins on this list are still in circulation. So, check the coins in your piggy bank or change jar, and next time you get some coins in change, have a quick look to see if you’ve got any that could be valuable.
1913 Liberty Head Nickel
The 1913 Liberty Head nickel is technically still in circulation. But with only about 5 in existence, it is extremely rare.
In 1913, the Liberty Head was replaced with the Buffalo nickel, but very few made it into circulation. If you’re lucky enough to find one, it could be worth about $4 million.
1943 Lincoln Head Copper Penny
Today, all pennies are made of copper. But during World War II, that wasn’t the case. Copper was used to produce other things like generators and radio circuits, and pennies were made of iron alloys, mostly steel.
But, in 1943, a batch of Lincoln Head copper pennies were put into circulation. So, if you find a 1943 penny, check to see what it’s made of. It could be worth up to $10,000.
1937 3-Leg Buffalo Nickel
The 1937 3-leg buffalo nickel is one of the more famous error coins. In good condition, it could be worth about $95,000.
A worker trying to fix a damaged die ended up making another mistake. He polished it down and removed a little too much, causing the front leg of the buffalo to disappear. If you find one, check it carefully. Some people have tried to shave the leg off a regular 1937 buffalo nickel and pass it off as the error coin.
1965 Roosevelt Silver Dime
During the 1960s, the U.S. Mint transitioned from making silver dimes to nickel and copper dimes. During this change, some silver dimes were made either with the wrong die or materials.
This error made the coin weigh slightly more than it should. If you have an accurate digital scale, a 1965 dime should weigh 2.50 grams, but a Roosevelt Silver Dime weighs 2.60 grams and is worth about $7,000.
1955 Double Die Penny
Double-die coins almost appear blurry. This is because the alignment was slightly skewed during the minting process, creating a double image.
In 1955, around 20,000 double-die pennies were put into circulation. The doubling is mostly visible on the numbers and letters of the coin, with Lincoln’s bust being unaffected. If you find a 1955 double-die penny in your pocket change, and the coin is in great condition, it could be worth about $1,800.
1969-S Double Die Penny Obverse
The 1969-S double-die penny is like the 1955 coin. The words and numbers are doubled due to what’s known as class 1 rotated hub doubling.
There aren’t as many of these in circulation as the 1955 double-die penny. But if you find one, it could be worth about $126,000.
1982 No Mint Mark Roosevelt Dime
Every coin in the U.S. is supposed to have a mint mark. This is a letter that shows the mint where the coin was made. In 1982, the Philadelphia Mint made some Roosevelt dimes without the “P” mint mark.
It’s estimated that about 10,000 of these coins are still in circulation. If you have one, it could be worth about $300.
2004 Wisconsin State Quarter Extra Leaf
State quarters went into circulation in 1999. These coins commemorated each state with a special design. A new coin design caused a lot of excitement, and state quarters are highly collectible today, especially if you find one with a minting error.
The 2004 Wisconsin state quarter showcased the state’s agricultural sector and featured a dairy cow, an ear of corn, and a round of cheese. In some quarters, there’s an extra line in the ear of corn that gives the impression of an extra leaf. This coin, in good condition, is valued at about $300.
1787 Fugio Cent
The 1787 Fugio cent is said to have been designed by Benjamin Franklin. In honor of its supposed namesake, it’s often called the Franklin Cent. It’s also the first official U.S. coin put into circulation.
This coin is still in circulation today but is extremely rare. A circulated version recently sold for around $1,500, and an uncirculated version sold for $3,500 a short time ago.
2005 Kansas State Quarter
Some of the 2005 Kansas state quarters appear to say “In God We Rust” instead of “In God We Trust.” This error was caused by grease buildup in the die. It’s not an uncommon error, but grease buildup errors don’t always make a coin valuable.
The location of the error makes the 2005 Kansas State quarter more collectible. In good condition, this quarter could be worth up to $100.
1972 Double Die Penny
The 1973 double die penny has quite defined doubling on the date and words on the obverse. The doubling isn’t quite as defined as the 1955 double die. But it’s still very noticeable if you look closely.
About 20,000 of these coins are still in circulation, so there’s a good chance of finding one. And if you do, it could be worth up to $1,000.
1999-P Connecticut Broadstruck Quarter
A broadstruck error happens when the die collar is in the wrong position or is loose. This error can make the coin slightly larger than it should be. Which makes it collectible.
You won’t get rich if you have a 1999-P Connecticut broadstruck quarter. But, it is worth much more than its face value. You may get as much as $25 for the coin at auction.
2007 – Present Presidential Dollar Coins (With Errors)
Dollar coins featuring U.S. presidents were first issued in 2007 and are still minted today. These coins are very collectible and celebrate U.S. history.
However, there have been a lot of errors during the minting process. Some have missing letters, or the lettering is upside down. You can also find coins with blurred letters. Other coins can be found with a design change, but where you can still see the original design. The value of these coins depends on the error and the condition. But one can be worth between $100 and $900.
1992 Close AM Penny
Even small, barely noticeable errors can increase a coin’s value – and you have to look really closely to notice this error. The 1992 Close AM penny has “A” and “M” in America printed closer together than they should be.
It’s very easy to miss this error, especially if you’re not an avid coin collector. But if you find one of these coins, it could be worth as much as $20,000.
2005-D Speared Bison Jefferson Nickel
If you have a 2005 bison Jefferson nickel, look at the buffalo and see if it appears to be impaled with a spear. If it does, it could be worth about $1,260.
This error was caused by a deep scratch on the minting die. You can easily see the error on the reverse side of the coin. It looks like a spear through the bison’s back, starting at the bottom of the “E” in “STATES” and through to about the midpoint between the bison’s front and back legs.
15 Bizarre Items That People Bought and Sold on eBay
We all have an eBay account, but who still uses the platform? Traditionally, eBay was the go-to website to sell and buy used items. Now, there are many marketplaces for second-hand items, but eBay is the place where weirdness abounds. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen on eBay? I can bet it wasn’t as weird as some of these items.
18 Everyday Household Items That Are Surprisingly Valuable to Collectors
You don’t have to be a collector or hoarder to have several valuable things in your home. We all accrue many items over the years, some of which could be worth money. Even some everyday household items can be valuable, especially to collectors.
To help determine whether any of your household items are valuable to collectors, we’ve assembled a list of 18 everyday items you likely have in your house. Check out this list and see if any of your items can be turned into money.
