I Asked a Coin Dealer: Which Rare Coins Are Actually Worth Buying vs. Hype?
Rare coins might be cool to look at, but their monetary value is largely based on the same thing as any other asset: supply and demand.
That’s not the only consideration, however. Other factors that play a part in a coin’s market value include its condition, nostalgic worth, importance in completing a set — and industry hype.
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But which rare coins transcend the hype and are actually worth buying?
We asked that question of John Brush, president of the rare coin dealership and auction firm DLRC in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and president of the Professional Numismatists Guild. Here are the six coins he cited, ranked in order. Value ranges are based on price guide data compiled by coin sites such as NGC Coin Explorer, USA Coin Book and Coin ID Scanner.
1. 1909-S VDB. Lincoln Cent
General value range: $860 (Good/G4)-$2,498 (Uncirculated MS-63)
Brush called this coin “coveted by both collectors and non-collectors alike.” The V.D.B. initials on the back are a nod to the coin’s designer, artist Victor D. Brenner.
“Many collectors launched into the hobby as children, collecting Lincoln Cents to store inside their blue Whitman albums,” Brush said. “While I love the coin in general and consider it a ‘numismatic blue chip,’ I specifically love the coins in grades of Mint State 65 with the red color designation, as they are not only difficult to locate but also pleasing to the eye.”
2. 1787 Fugio Cent
General value range: $90-$150 (Good/G4)-$3,000-$7,000-plus (Mint State uncirculated)
Recent research found that this Benjamin Franklin-inspired coin is the first official circulation coin authorized by the United States.
“While the government contract allowed for several million of these to be produced, copper shortages and other legal issues kept the mintage to perhaps just under 400,000 coins,” Brush said. “Long overlooked as just a pre-United States colonial coin, this keeper is now considered one of the most historic (and affordable) coins available.”
3. 1861-D Gold Dollar
General value range: $9,500 (lower end circulated)-$220,000 (Pristine uncirculated)
As Brush told us, this “fascinating” coin was made at a branch mint in Dahlonega, Georgia that operated from 1838 to 1861. When the Civil War began in 1861, the mint was overtaken by Confederate soldiers who used it to produce gold dollars.
“Only 75 or so are thought to survive today, [and] only one or two examples come to market on an annual basis, making it a scarce coin packed with historical significance,” Brush said.
4. 1895 Proof Morgan Dollar
General value range: $35,000 (Good)-$175,000 (MS-68)
Morgan Dollars are “probably the most collected U.S. coins due to their size, eye appeal, and general availability,” Brush said. But it’s “nearly impossible” to complete a set because the 1895 coins are so hard to find.
“There were only 880 of these struck, and the general starting price comes in around a minimum of $40,000,” Brush said. “In this case, rarity certainly adds value to an already beautiful coin.”
5. 1907 High Relief $20
General value range: $6,000-$17,000 (Good/G4)-$750,000 (Pristine uncirculated)
Known as a Double Eagle, this has long been considered the “most beautiful American coin,” according to Brush.
It was commissioned directly by President Theodore Roosevelt, designed by renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. It represented a “monumental” first step in the “entire revamp of the design of U.S. coins,” he said.
6. 1916-D Mercury Dime
General value range: $850-$12,650 (Circulated)-$39,000 (Pristine uncirculated)
One reason for this coin’s popularity is that it represents the “key” date in the Mercury Dime set, Brush said, and therefore draws a lot of collectors. It’s also “legitimately difficult” to locate, and “often brings collectors back to search for this coin to complete the hole in their childhood collection.”
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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