Coins are not only a means of payment, but also an object of collecting. They can tell us about the history, culture, and economy of different countries and epochs. Some coins become real works of art and attract the attention of collectors from all over the world, much like the allure of high-quality online casino platforms, such as casino Slotozen, which offers an exciting online casino experience for enthusiasts. In this article, we will tell you about the most expensive coins in history, which cause admiration for their beauty, rarity, and historical significance.
1. Agrigento Decadramma
The Agrigento Decadrachm is a rare and valuable coin that was issued in Sicily during the reign of Gieron II (275-215 BC). It has a weight of about 43 grams and is made of pure gold. The obverse of the coin depicts the head of the goddess Persephone wearing a wreath of wheat, while the reverse shows a biga with a charioteer and a monogram.
The Agrigento decadrachm is one of the largest silver denominations of Ancient Greece and its colonies. It was issued on the occasion of significant events such as a military victory or other important events. Extant specimens of this coin are very rare and highly prized among collectors.
Estimated value: $2,918,000.
2. 5 US Liberty Head cents 1913
The 1913 Liberty Head US 5 cents coin is one of the rarest and most valuable coins in history. It was issued in a limited edition and has a unique design that makes it especially attractive to collectors.
The obverse of the coin depicts a woman symbolising Liberty, while the reverse features a Roman numeral ‘V’ surrounded by a wreath of wheat, corn cobs and tobacco leaves. The coin is made of copper and nickel, its diameter is 21.2 mm and its weight is 5 grams.
The speciality of the coin is that it was issued in the last year of production of the Liberty Head series. Only less than 5 copies of the 1913 coin were produced, and their value at auctions reaches several million dollars.
This coin is a true treasure for collectors and investors who appreciate rare and unique items.
Estimated value: $3,737,500.
3. Canadian $1,000,000 Gold Coin
The Canadian $1,000,000 gold coin is one of the most unique and expensive coins in the world. It was released by the Royal Canadian Mint in 2007 in a limited edition of only five pieces. The coin weighs 100 kilograms and has a diameter of 530 millimetres.
The coin is made of pure 999.99 gold, which makes it incredibly valuable. The obverse of the coin features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, while the reverse features a stylised maple leaf.
The CAD 1,000,000 gold coin is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest gold coin in the world. Its value at the time of its release was estimated at $4 million.
In March 2017, one of the coins was stolen from a Berlin museum. Its whereabouts are still unknown.
Estimated value: $4,070,000.
4. Aureus of Emperor Brutus 42 BC
The Aureus of Emperor Brutus, minted in 42 BC, is a rare and valuable coin that sold at auction for $3.5 million. This gold coin was issued two years after the assassination of Gaius Julius Caesar. The obverse of the coin shows the profile of Brutus surrounded by the inscription BRVT IMP (Brutus Imperator) and L PLAET CEST (Lucius Plethorius Cestianus - head of the mint in ancient Rome). The reverse shows two daggers and the ancient Roman felt cap pilos, symbolising the goddess of liberty Libertas. This headdress was given by the Romans to slaves who had gained their freedom. The phrase EID MAR (Ides of March - 15 March, the date of Caesar's assassination) is stamped at the bottom.
Commemorative aureus in honour of Caesar's assassination received only the most important persons. Experts suggest that this coin was worn as a medallion by a very high ranking supporter of Brutus, probably even one of Caesar's assassins. The coin comes from the collection of the 19th century Swiss archaeologist Baron Gustav Carl Ferdinand von Bonstetten, who served as chamberlain to Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria. Only three such coins are known in the world, including this specimen.
Estimated value: $4,174,000
5. Umayyad gold dinar of 723 (B)
The Umayyad gold dinar of 723 (B) is a rare and valuable piece of numismatics. This coin was minted during the reign of the Umayyad dynasty, one of the most powerful dynasties in the history of Islam.
The gold dinar was widely circulated throughout the Caliphate and beyond, serving as an international currency. The coin is characterised by high quality minting and contains inscriptions in Arabic indicating its denomination and place of minting.
The Umayyad Gold Dinar 723 (B) is an important historical artefact that provides a better understanding of the economic and political history of the medieval Middle East. The coin is an object of interest to collectors and researchers from around the world.
Estimated value: $4,780,000.
6. 20 Dollars 1907 Indian Head double eagle
The $20 1907 Indian Head double eagle is one of the most beautiful and rare coins in U.S. history. It was created by American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens at the request of Theodore Roosevelt, who sought to make American coins more beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.
The coin's design reflects a desire for progress and freedom, as well as respect for the Native American peoples. The obverse of the coin depicts a woman, symbolising Liberty, with a torch in one hand and a branch in the other. The reverse of the coin depicts an eagle with wings spread.
The coin was issued in a limited edition and quickly became a collector's item. Today it is valued in the millions of dollars and is considered one of the most expensive coins in the world.
Estimated value: $6,000,000
7. Umayyad Gold Dinar 723 (A)
The Umayyad gold dinar of 723 is one of the most expensive and rare Islamic coins. It was minted during the reign of Yazid II (720-724) after the discovery of a gold mine. The coin bears an inscription that translates as ‘The Mine of the Lord of the Faithful’.
The Umayyad gold dinar of 723 was issued in two variants: A and B. Variant A differs from variant B in design details and quality of minting. Variant A is considered to be rarer and more valuable than variant B.
Both variants are of great interest to collectors and historians as they provide a better understanding of the economic and political history of the medieval Middle East.
Estimated value: $6,029,400.
8. ‘New York gold doubloon’ by Ephraim Brasher
‘Ephraim Brasher's New York Gold Doubloon’ is a unique coin created between 1787 and 1793. Ephraim Brasher, a renowned jeweller of the time, created a small batch of gold coins modelled on the Spanish doubloons that were widely circulated in the American colonies. The face value of Brasher's doubloons was $15 in 1787, when the U.S. coinage system was not yet legally regulated.
These coins were characterised by high quality workmanship and unique designs. On the obverse of the coin depicts a sitting on the throne of the king with the regalia of power in his hands, and on the sides of him placed images of two heraldic leopards. The field around the figure of the king is filled with French heraldic lilies, indicating the English king's claim to the French throne.
Currently, seven copies of the Brasher doubloon are known. They differ in the placement of the jeweller's initials: on six of the coins the initials are placed on the wing, while on the breast they are known only in a single copy.
‘New York gold doubloon’ Ephraim Brasher is one of the rarest and most valuable coins in the history of the United States. These coins are now held in private collections and museums around the world.
9. 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar
The 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar is the first US silver coin in the $1 denomination. It was created by Robert Scott and was put into circulation in 1794 and 1795. The obverse of the coin depicts a woman with loose hair, symbolising Liberty, with the inscription ‘LIBERTY’ above her head. The reverse of the coin contains an image of a white-headed eagle, the heraldic symbol of the United States, surrounded by olive branches.
Just over 162,000 coins were issued, of which only a few have survived to this day. The coin has a high value among collectors and numismatists due to its rarity and historical significance.
Estimated value: 10,016,875 $
10. Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle 1933
The 1933 Double Eagle of Saint-Gaudens coin is one of the rarest and most expensive coins in the world It was created by American engraver Augustus St. Gaudens and minted in 1933 The coin has a face value of $20 and is made of gold
In 1933 in the United States began an economic crisis known as the Great Depression Due to this, the U.S. government decided to withdraw gold coins from circulation However, a few 1933 St Godin Double Eagle coins survived and were stolen from the mint
Subsequently, one of these coins was sold at auction in 2002 for a record $7.59 million dollars This sale was one of the most significant in the history of numismatics
The 1933 St. Gaudens Double Eagle coin is a symbol of the skill of engraver Augustus St. Gaudens and commemorates a difficult period in U.S. history Later on 8 June 2021 at a Sotheby's auction, the previously mentioned gold twenty-dollar US Double Eagle type Double Eagle coin dated ‘1933’, once owned by the late Egyptian King Farouk (ruled 1936-52), sold for $18,900,000 at a Sotheby's auction To date, this one is the most expensive coin sold at any known world auction
Estimated value: 18,900,000