Rare coins have significantly increased in value over time. According to the rare coin newsletter Finest Known, prices rose more than 1,000% from 1976 to 1980 and 600% from 1982 to 1989.
Collectors seek rare and error coins. potential profit. However, not all rare coins are valued the same. SD bullionThe gold and silver trader has created a list of the most valuable American error coins (sometimes called “miss strikes”), analyzing eBay auctions dating back to January 2023, and comparing current We have determined which coins are most valuable. The following error coins have been named to the list.
1. Three Legs Buffalo Nickel
The reverse of this coin, produced in 1937, depicts a lame buffalo. Possible cause: Defective reverse die during casting. One of these coins was sold on eBay in February 2023 for $7,400. Currently, the highest price ever paid at private auction is $99,875.
2. Mercury Dime
The most famous 1942 Mercury dime error coin is the “1942/1 Overdate” variety. This variety was created when a 1941 die was mistakenly used to hit a small number of his 1942 dimes. As a result, the digit “1” from the previous year’s date still appeared below the “2” in the coin’s date, creating a noticeable overdate error. This coin was found listed on eBay on January 29, 2023 for $3,990. In 2018, a high-grade sample sold for $120,000.
3. DDO Lincoln Cent
The Double Die Observe (DD Obverse Lincoln Cent) is a famous error coin produced in 1955. During the minting process, misalignment caused the image on the die to be duplicated, creating a distinctive “double image” on the surface of the coin. effect. Many collectors are interested in this iconic rare coin.
In perfect condition, this coin would be worth over $125,000.
4.DDR Buffalo Nickel
The highest auction price ever for this coin was $104,650 in 2007, and the highest sale price on eBay was $2,504 on March 15, 2023. The Double Die Reverse (DDR) is one of his most famous defective coins from his 1935 Buffalo Nickel.
This error occurs when part of the master hub’s design is duplicated on the primary die used to strike the coin. Coins struck with this die will show duplicates.
5. Silver Washington Quarter
When searching for and collecting Washington Quarters, you should look for common mistakes and important dates. Some Silver Washington Quarters were minted in 1964 with planchets that were too thin, resulting in coins that weighed significantly less than normal. In 2012, one of these coins sold for his $12,650.
In January 2023, the listing price on eBay was $2,505, but the average price was between $5,000 and $9,000 each.
6. “No D” Lincoln Cent
The 1922 No D Lincoln Cent Error coin was produced when the Denver Mint used two dies to create the penny. All Denver pennies must bear the “D” mint mark. However, the missing detail that makes this coin worth $1,977 (on eBay in February 2023) is the lack of a “D” stamp on the 1922 cent. An example of this coin was sold for $92,000 in 2008.
7. Extra Leaf Wisconsin Quarter
The 2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf Quarter is the only major variety in the state quarter program. In the “Wisconsin Extra Leaf Quarter” he found two different varieties. One is the most common “low-leaf” variety. The second variety is the “high leaf” variety, which is the rarer of the two varieties.
Both have an extra husk on the left side of the corn that is not visible in a typical Wisconsin plot.
Low value Extra Leaf example sold for $1,650 on eBay in March 2023.
8. Double D obverse quarter casting
This 1943 error coin features a double inscription of the motto “In God, We Trust” due to a mold failure. Doubled Die Obverse Quarter sold for $1,550 on eBay in January 2023. However, mint condition variations of this coin can fetch up to $20,000 at private auction.
9. Unfinished Proof Die Gold Eagle
In 1999, the U.S. Mint made the mistake of producing the first Mint $5 and $10 Gold Eagles with the “W” mintmark. Specifically, the unfinished proof die Gold Eagle is derived from a variety of proof dies used for regular bullion blanks. The most recent listing of this error coin was in March 2023, when it traded for $1,499.99.
10. Wounded Eagle Sacagawea
The 2000 Pesos “Wounded Eagle” Sacagawea dollar’s raised die fault across the eagle’s belly is where the coin’s nickname comes from. The cause of this misprint was a worn mold at the mint, which resulted in the coin being insufficiently struck.
Professional Coin Grading Services estimates the value of the Wound Eagle Sacagawea dollar in mint condition to be $5,000, but a similar coin sold on eBay for just $699.95 on February 16, 2023.
Why do people collect coins?
Anton A. Bogdanov is an appraiser and senior content editor at the auction platform. EBTH Co., Ltd., operates a private firm specializing in alternative asset investments. Bogdanov explains that flaws in the minting procedure are what characterize error coins and make them collectible.
Collectors can gain a deeper understanding of coin production equipment and processes by looking at what can go wrong.
“They learn, so to speak, how sausage is made,” Bogdanov said.
Errors in a coin do not necessarily translate into its value
Contrary to popular belief, errors are only worthwhile sometimes, Bogdanov says. Error characteristics such as off-center strikes and laminations do not necessarily add value to modern coins.
It depends on the demand for the type of error, the severity of the error, the type of coin, the date, and the mint. “You might run into the question, ‘How many percent off center is it?'” Bogdanove says.
This reveals why the famous 1955 Double Die Obverse (DDO) Lincoln cent continues to sell for exorbitant fees at auction. On the other hand, notable error types such as “blank planchet” cents can be purchased for less than a cup of coffee.
Additionally, an SD Bullion spokesperson said that the older the coin, the higher its value. Also, if the mintage of the design is restricted, such as the 2004 state district, the value of discovered error coins may increase.
Amaka Chukwuma is a freelance content writer with a bachelor’s degree in linguistics. As a result of her insatiable curiosity, she has written in a variety of B2C and B2B niches. However, her favorite subjects are in the fields of finance, health, and technology. In the past she has contributed to publications such as Buttonwood Tree and FinanceBuzz, and currently she writes for Wealth of Geeks.
