Rare Coins Value List: Valuable U.S. Coins and What They’re Worth
Found a coin you have never seen before, or inherited a jar of old change? This rare coins value list puts dozens of valuable U.S. coins in one place, from errors you can still find in pocket change to famous rarities worth millions, with a value range for each one.
American Rarities has bought and sold rare coins since 1990. Our numismatists have hundreds of years of combined experience, and we have purchased over $350 million in coins, currency and precious metals. Use the list to see what your coins might be worth, then send us photos for a free, no-obligation appraisal.
Looking for something else? Our coin and paper money price guide covers common coins, melt values and currency, the Morgan silver dollar price guide goes date by date through the Morgan series, and our rare coin value guide explains what makes a coin valuable.
Valuable Coins You Can Still Find in Change
Where these numbers come from: every range below is taken from the NGC Price Guide, checked on October 25, 2026. The low figure is the lowest grade NGC lists for the coin (Good, VG, VF or XF) and the high figure is a top mint state (MS) or proof (PF) grade on the 70-point grading scale. NGC updates each entry separately, and some of these entries were last revised years ago, so treat them as reference ranges, not offers. Prices for the same coin can differ in the PCGS Price Guide, and a coin’s actual value depends on its exact grade, eye appeal and certification.
These modern errors and varieties turn up in circulation, rolls and family coin jars. Check the date, then look closely at the lettering with a magnifier.
| Coin | Why it is valuable | NGC value range |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 Lincoln cent, Doubled Die Obverse | Doubling on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST; found in circulation | MS-65 RD $50 to MS-69 RD $3,000 |
| 1984 Lincoln cent, Doubled Die Obverse | Doubled ear on Lincoln’s portrait | MS-63 BN $115 to MS-65 RD $200 |
| 1972 Lincoln cent, Doubled Die Obverse | Strong doubling on the date and lettering | XF $175 to MS-65 RD $635 (MS-67 RD $5,600) |
| 2004-D Wisconsin quarter, Extra Leaf | An extra leaf on the corn stalk; High and Low varieties | XF $45 to MS-65 $270 (MS-67 High Leaf $1,200) |
| 1955 Lincoln cent, Doubled Die Obverse | The most famous U.S. doubled die | Good $1,200 to MS-65 BN $8,750 (MS-65 RD $47,500) |
| 1943 bronze Lincoln cent | Struck on a leftover bronze planchet instead of steel; very few known | VF $60,000 to MS-62 $525,000 |
To find out what your own coins are worth, request a free rare coin appraisal near you. Collectors of world coins can read what decides rare China coins value.
Key-Date Coins Collectors Look For
Key dates are the hardest coins to find in a series, usually because few were struck or few survived. Even worn examples carry a strong premium, and the value climbs steeply in mint state.
For every date and mint mark of the Morgan series, see our Morgan silver dollar price guide.
| Coin | Why it is valuable | NGC value range |
|---|---|---|
| 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent | Low mintage first-year key with the designer’s initials | Good $875 to MS-65 BN $4,000 (MS-65 RD $8,250) |
| 1914-D Lincoln cent | Key date of the wheat cent series | Good $185 to MS-65 BN $7,150 (MS-65 RD $17,500) |
| 1922 “No D” Lincoln cent, strong reverse | Denver mint mark missing from a worn die | Good $700 to MS-65 $92,500 |
| 1916-D Mercury dime | Only 264,000 struck; the series key | Good $1,700 to MS-65 $30,000 |
| 1942/41 Mercury dime (and 1942/41-D) | Overdate with a 1 visible under the 2 | Good $325 to MS-65 $13,000 |
| 1937-D “Three-Legged” Buffalo nickel | Over-polished die removed the bison’s front leg | Good $475 to MS-65 $24,500 |
| 1918/7-D Buffalo nickel | Overdate; very rare in high grades | Good $925 to MS-65 $260,000 |
| 1885 Liberty Head nickel | Lowest-mintage regular Liberty nickel | Good $415 to MS-65 $7,000 |
| 1895-O Barber dime | Key date of the Barber dime series | Good $435 to MS-65 $28,500 |
| 1932-D and 1932-S Washington quarters | Low-mintage first-year keys | Good $85 to MS-65 $2,500 (1932-S) or $11,500 (1932-D) |
| 1893-S Morgan silver dollar | Key date of the Morgan series; only 100,000 struck | Good $4,000 to MS-65 $680,000 |
| 1889-CC Morgan silver dollar | Carson City key date | Good $595 to MS-65 $290,000 |
| 1928 Peace silver dollar | Lowest-mintage Peace dollar | Good $235 to MS-65 $4,250 |
| 1934-S Peace silver dollar | Scarce in mint state | VG $90 to MS-65 $12,500 |
Famous U.S. Rarities Worth Six and Seven Figures
These are among the most famous rare coins in American numismatics. Most trade through major auctions, and almost all are certified by NGC or PCGS. If you believe you have one, have it authenticated before anything else, because many copies and counterfeits exist.
| Coin | Why it is valuable | NGC value range |
|---|---|---|
| 1794 Flowing Hair silver dollar | First U.S. silver dollar; about 1,758 struck | Good $100,000 to MS-65 $4,000,000 |
| 1804 silver dollar, Class I | “King of American Coins”; 8 originals known | PF-55 $2,500,000 to PF-68 $12,500,000 |
| 1913 Liberty Head nickel | Only five known | PF-62 $2,500,000 to PF-66 $5,500,000 |
| 1894-S Barber dime | Only 24 struck, about 9 known | PF-61 $365,000 to PF-66 $2,600,000 |
| 1879 Flowing Hair $4 Stella | Gold pattern made for Congress | PF-60 $130,000 to PF-65 $250,000 |
| 1880 Coiled Hair $4 Stella | Rarest Stella design | PF-60 $550,000 to PF-67 $2,500,000 |
| 1907 High Relief Saint-Gaudens $20 | Sculptural high relief design, 1907 only | VF $12,000 to MS-65 $55,000 |
| 1920-S, 1921 and 1927-D Saint-Gaudens $20 | Most were melted in the 1930s | Good $15,000 (1920-S) to MS-67 $6,500,000 (1927-D) |
What Determines a Rare Coin’s Value?
Two coins with the same date can be worth very different amounts. A rare coin’s value depends on:
- Grade. Condition is measured from 1 to 70. A jump of a few points in mint state can multiply the value.
- Rarity. Mintage matters, but so does how many survived and how many are known in each grade.
- Variety and errors. Doubled dies, overdates and missing mint marks are worth far more than normal coins of the same date.
- Color and eye appeal. Copper coins are graded Red (RD), Red-Brown (RB) or Brown (BN), and original surfaces bring more than cleaned ones.
- Authenticity and certification. Coins certified by NGC or PCGS are easier to sell and usually bring more.
Do not clean your coins. Cleaning leaves hairline scratches that lower the grade and the value. For a deeper look at grading, rarity and demand, read our rare coin value guide. If you are holding coins as an investment, see how to make money with rare coins.
How to Get Your Rare Coins Appraised and Sold
A guide value tells you roughly what a coin retails for. To learn what your coin is actually worth, it needs to be examined by someone who knows the series.
- Send photos or a list. Email staff@americanrarities.com, text 720-600-4740 or use the form below. Clear photos of both sides are enough to start.
- Get a free appraisal, usually within 24 to 48 hours. We authenticate with XRF testing and digital microscopy and give you free in-house grading without the cost of slabbing.
- Choose how to sell. Larger collections can be seen through a home visit, mail-in shipments are insured with no deductible, and we offer free or discounted shipping on selected collections.
- Get paid immediately by check, wire or ACH once you accept our offer.
IRS-compliant appraisals are also available.
Why Collectors Choose American Rarities
- Buying and selling rare coins since 1990, with more than 30 years in business and over $350 million purchased
- A team of rare coin experts with hundreds of years of combined experience
- PCGS and NGC authorized dealer and ANACS submission center
- ANA Life Members, A+ BBB rating and 4.7 on Google from 86 reviews
- A nationwide buying network, with buyers in Colorado, California and Arizona as well as Minnesota, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Wyoming and New Jersey
- Fair written offers with no obligation, and immediate payment by check, wire or ACH
Related guides: Coin & Paper Money Price Guide · Morgan Silver Dollar Price Guide · Rare Coin Value Guide · How to Make Money with Rare Coins
Rare Coins Value List: Quick Answers
What is the most valuable U.S. coin on this list?
The 1804 Class I silver dollar, up to $12.5 million in PF-68 in the NGC Price Guide as checked October 25, 2026.
Which valuable coins can still be found in pocket change?
The 1995, 1984 and 1972 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln cents and the 2004-D Wisconsin extra leaf quarter.
Why is my coin worth less than the value list shows?
Guide values assume a correctly graded, problem-free coin. Wear, cleaning or damage lowers value, and a dealer’s buy price is below retail.
Personalized Rare Coin Values Provided Free
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Email: staff@americanrarities.com | Text: 720-600-4740
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