News of a rare Bicentennial Quarter valued at around $1,420 million and five additional coins valued at over $450 million apiece has recently created a stir in the numismatic community.
Let’s examine what makes these rare coins so precious and dive into the most recent news about them.
The United States celebrated its 200th year of independence with the release of the Bicentennial Quarter in 1976. The coin, created by Jack L. Ahr, has a distinctive reverse that shows a victory torch and a colonial drummer surrounded by thirteen stars, each of which represents one of the original colonies.
Due to a special minting error, this quarter’s remarkable worth of about $1,420 million makes it a one-of-a-kind specimen.
Bicentennial Quarter
The disputed Bicentennial Quarter has a double die on the obverse side, making it an incredibly unusual mint mistake coin. This mistake happened during the coin’s minting, which caused the design features to clearly double.
The coin was found by a fortunate collector in Ohio who happened to come across it among some common quarters.
The coin was estimated to be worth almost $1,420 million after thorough authentication and appraisal, making it one of the most costly quarters ever found.
Five Other Coins
Five other coins, each valued at more than $450 million, have lately come to light in addition to the unique Bicentennial Quarter. Among them are:
Liberty Head Nickel, 1913
The 1913 Liberty Head Nickel, shrouded in mystery, is one of the most well-known and contentious coins in American history. Although there were officially supposed to be no Liberty Head nickels struck in 1913, five were allegedly created covertly—possibly by a mint employee.
Because of their scarcity and the mystery surrounding their production, these coins have gained mythical status. The estimated worth of these nickels has increased to almost $450 million, with one having sold for $4.5 million in 2018.
Flowing Hair Dollar, 1794
Another extremely valuable coin is the 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar, which was the United States Mint’s first silver dollar. These coins are extremely uncommon because there were just a few hundred that were made.
The Flowing Hair Dollar is highly valued for both its aesthetic appeal and historical significance. At this point, the coin is worth more over $450 million.
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Copper Penny, 1943
In order to save copper for the war effort, the U.S. Mint converted from copper to zinc-coated steel for pennies during World War II.
But in 1943, a tiny quantity of copper pennies were inadvertently struck, rendering them incredibly uncommon. Due to its scarcity and collectors’ curiosity, the 1943 Copper Penny is now valued at over $450 million.
Half Eagle, 1822
One of the rarest American coins ever found is the $5 gold 1822 Half Eagle. There are only three known specimens, two of which are in the possession of the Smithsonian Institution.
The sole privately held 1822 Half Eagle brought $8.4 million at auction the last time it was sold. Its value has increased to nearly $450 million due to its rarity and historical significance.
Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, 1933
There are reportedly very few 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle coins in existence, making it a mythical currency. Because the US abandoned the gold standard during the Great Depression, these $20 gold coins were never formally released.
A small number of these coins were preserved and have since increased in value; the most were melted down. In 2021, one of these coins sold for $18.9 million; today, its estimated worth is higher than $450 million.
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