Are you a coin collector looking to part with your collection, or maybe someone who inherited a family member’s coin collection? Whether you are a novice or veteran collector, you likely know that some coins are far more valuable than others. You need to know whether your coins are worth selling and how to get a fair price for them.

In this article, we’ll talk about some of the most valuable coins on the market today, how to identify other valuable coins, and how to sell your coin collection.

15 Coins That Are Worth Collecting Today

Here are some of the most valuable U.S. currency coins that may be in your collection.

Pennies

1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent

These coins were the first pennies to feature Abraham Lincoln’s head, as they were made to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth. The first versions had the designer’s initials, VDB, on them. The three initials were removed in later versions, making these particular coins scarce.

1914 D Lincoln Cent

These coins are not quite as rare as the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent coins, but they are still hard to come by. People did not save as many uncirculated specimens of this coin at the time, so uncirculated coins are very valuable to collectors today.

1943 Lincoln Copper Cent

In 1943, the U.S. Mint changed the components of pennies to steel because copper and nickel were needed for fighting in WWII. However, one batch of pennies was still made with leftover copper on the presses. Only 20-40 of these pennies are believed to still exist, and one was sold for 1.75 million at auction in 2010.

1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent

Doubled die coins are coins that were accidentally struck twice, creating the appearance of two slightly misaligned images on a coin instead of one regular image. Doubled die coins from any year are more valuable than their regular counterparts. 1955 was the year this offshoot of coin collecting began, so these coins can be very valuable. There are about 20-24,000 of these coins in existence.

Nickels

1913 Liberty Head Nickel

Liberty Head Nickels were produced from 1883-1913, but only 5 were printed in 1913, making them extremely rare from this year. In the past, these coins have sold for $3-5 million.

1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo Nickel

Like the 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent, the 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo Nickel is an error coin. The front leg of the buffalo wasn’t printed properly, so it looks like the buffalo only has three legs. This coin didn’t receive immediate popularity and newsworthiness at the time it was printed and only later became popular with collectors. Most coins saw circulation and are worth a moderate price; uncirculated examples are rare and worth quite a bit.

Dimes

1916-D Mercury Dime

This coin is called “Winged Liberty Head Dime” because the lady liberty head on the front had a helmet with wings. Many people at the time mistook the lady on the coin head for the Roman god Mercury. Only 264,000 of these coins were made.

Quarters

1916 or 1917 Standing Liberty Quarter Type 1

Standing Liberty Quarters were only printed from 1916 through 1930, and the design changed twice in that time. The original bare-breasted Lady Liberty design (Type 1) was changed to one of Lady Liberty wearing chainmail (Type 2) after less than a year, so the original is scarcer and more valuable.

The 1916 version of this coin is especially rare because it had a very limited mintage. More Standing Liberty Type 1 quarters were produced in 1917, so these coins are not quite as valuable, especially if they were circulated.

1932-D Washington Quarter

This quarter was created to commemorate the first president’s 200th birthday. It was the first quarter to depict the likeness of George Washington. Initially, it was intended to be a one-year commemorative coin, but it was so popular that the design was permanently adopted in 1934. Fewer people saved the 1932-D quarter than the 1932-S quarter, so the 1932-D quarter is scarce.

Dollar Coins:

1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar

This coin, depicting a profile of Lady Liberty with flowing hair, is believed to be the first silver dollar printed by the U.S. Mint. Only 1,800 were ever produced, and experts believe only 120 to 130 are left. It may be the most valuable coin you can find today. A specimen of this coin sold at auction for $10 million in 2013. 

1921 Peace Dollar

This peace dollar design was made to commemorate the relative peace after WWI. The coin has a Lady Liberty design on one side and an American Eagle on the reverse. These coins weren’t struck until the final days of 1921, so coins from that year are scarce. 

1878 CC Morgan Silver Dollar

These coins were minted in response to the 1878 Bland-Allison Sct, which required the U.S. government to make silver dollars. They are not scarce or attached to a certain date, so 1878-CC Morgan Silver Dollars are some of the easier collectible coins to find and afford. Uncirculated Morgan Silver Dollars are usually worth a moderate amount of money.

Other Coins

1787 Fugio Cent

Also called the Franklin cent after Benjamin Franklin, the Fugio Cent is believed to be one of the first coins circulated in the United States. The design includes the Latin word “Fugio” printed on one side as well as a sundial and the phrase “mind your business.” Depending on the condition and variant, a genuine Fugio Cent may be worth a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

1787 Brasher Doubloon 

This gold coin was created by New York goldsmith Edward Brasher and was one of the first gold coins circulated throughout the early United States. Versions of the coin with the maker’s signature are worth more than those without. In 2021, a version of the 1787 Brasher Doubloon sold for $9.36 million.

1908 St. Gaudens Arabic Numerals No Motto

The first versions of this $20 coin did not include the “In God We Trust” motto. The motto was added in later versions, making the no motto version rare and valuable. Some say that this was the most beautiful coin ever produced by the U.S. Mint.

How to Identify Other Valuable Coins

There are many factors that affect a coin’s value. Age, mintage, year, current-day rarity, and condition are all key factors that collectors take into account.

The mintage is the number of copies of the specific coin that were printed. The lower the mintage, the rarer the coin usually is, and the higher the value. The specific U.S. Mint location where the coin was produced can also affect the value.

The year a coin was made is also a factor, especially if the coin was made in a year when different materials were used for the coin. In many cases, the year can tell you the metallic composition of the coin since the U.S. Mint changes the recipes every so often. For instance, silver coins minted before 1965 are usually composed of 90% silver and 10% copper.

As you add coins to your collection, be wary that some coins are easily faked. Sometimes coins can be painted, have parts scraped off, or have the year manually altered to look more valuable.

Some of the coins on this list are frequently counterfeited, including the 1943 Lincoln Copper Cent. To check if your “copper” 1943 Lincoln Penny is actually steel, you can see if it sticks to a magnet. The regular steel 1943 Lincoln penny is only worth 30 to 40 cents.

How Do I Find Out What My Coin Collection is Worth?

The best way to find out the worth of your coins is to start by doing your research. Websites such as the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) website are a good place to start. Keep in mind that wear, damage, and other harder-to-determine factors can affect a coin’s value.

After doing this kind of research, you should then find an appraiser, ideally one with expertise in coins. Whether you are trying to insure the coin or sell it through an auction, estate sale, or consignment, you need to know the true value of your coins.

If you want to sell your coin collection or find out how much it’s worth, contact Fruitcocktail Collectibles today. Our knowledgeable staff can help you identify, price, and sell your coins at a fair price.