There are circulating and commemorative coins in the U. S. The former are coins used for daily commerce at face value. The latter, on the other hand, are coins that are worth more than their face value. These are used to honor special occasions, anniversaries, notable events, historical figures, and more. Since commemorative coins are issued at a premium, they are rarely used in circulation. Moreover, this type of currency has significant numismatic value and often comes with more excellent face value than it is supposed to have.
For enthusiasts who collect custom commemorative coins, these coins are more precious than silver or gold and can command a high price on the market. Here are the four most valuable coins on the market today:
The Edward III Florin 1343
The value of the coin increases because of its age. This is the reason some people are willing to spend $6.8 million on a single coin at auction. Thinking about how a coin has survived for more than 670 years, anyone will be interested to know how many coins have been lost from the circulation and how many people have lost them. The Edward II Florin is considered one of the rarest coins in the world, with only three known examples available today.
The Brasher Doubloon 1787
A Wall Street investment firm spent $7.4 million to get a Brasher Doubloon during an auction. The man behind the design of this coin is Ephraim Brasher, who is known as a talented goldsmith. His idea of the Brasher Doubloon started when he wanted the state of New York to begin minting coins through this design in copper. But the state disagreed with his concept, saying that they were not open to using copper coins. Brasher created a few 22-carat golds, and these pieces are not valuable.
The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle 1907
This is one of the coins that was sold for $7.6 million in an auction. Augustus Saint-Gaudens originally designed this coin, but the United States Mint thought that the design was complicated and that they might have some issues producing them. The Mint’s chief engraver, Charles Barber, provided a solution through simplifying the design for commercial production. One of the modifications made was removing the phrase “In God We Trust.” Despite changes with the design, it did not meet the approval of the Congress. Only a few coins were made, and this is why the coin is extremely rare and valuable.
The Double Eagle 1933
The value of this coin was due to the circumstantial quirk. Although the coin was pressed in 1933, it was never released into circulation because President Franklin D. Roosevelt banned the possession of gold in the same year. The reason behind this was to solve the country’s banking crisis and financial issues that were causing devastating problems in the United States.
U. S. commemorative coins come in gold, silver, and clad compositions, and they are either uncirculated or proof versions. While some collectors focus on the classic or modern area, some have limited their collection to silver issues. With the vast array of subjects and designs, U. S. commemorative coins offer every coin enthusiast multiple collecting options.