Most Valuable Gold Coins by Date

Some of the most valuable coins in the world are also a great investment in gold.

Gold is nearing $2,000 per ounce. Historically, gold has always been treasured; it’s rare, finite and useful. So, it’s not a surprise that gold also produces some of the most valuable coins in the world. People love gold — and people love collectibles.

Gold coins are ranked like many other coins. There’s the rarity, the age and the condition. Often, the quality of the coin will surpass all other factors — if you find a rare coin in excellent condition, you could make millions.

We created a list of the 30 most valuable coins for gold investors, ranging from rare coins pressed in the year 696 to coins as recent as 2007. And don’t think that they’re completely out of grasp, either. Some of these coins have been found in rivers, in ruins and with metal detectors.

696 Umayyad Gold Dinar

Bonhams

Year: 696-723

Denomination: 1 dinar

Last sold: 2019

Sold for: $4.7 million

From 696 to 723, the Umayyad Caliphate released a sequence of gold dinars. These dinars vary in make and age but are all exceptionally valuable due to their origins. It’s believed that the gold itself is mined from a region very close to the holy city of Mecca.

Prices for these coins range significantly based on age and condition. In 2011, one sold for $6 million, while in 2019, another sold for only $4.7 million — you know, if you’re looking for a better deal.

1343 Edward III Florin

CoinageBritannia / Wikipedia

Year: 1343

Denomination: Florin

Last sold: 2006

Sold for: $850,000

There are only three 1343 Edward III Florins in existence, two of which were discovered in the River Tyne in 1857 and are now kept in the collection of the British Museum in London. But get your hopes up: The third was found via metal detector in 2006. The Edward III Florin is printed with King Edward III on his throne. While the last coin was sold at auction for $850,000, it’s believed that the coin could be valued at more than $6 million today. Better get out that metal detector.

1621 Polish Ducat

Stacks Bowers

Year: 1621

Denomination: 100 ducats

Last sold: January 2018

Sold for: $2.16 million

It’s believed that the 1621 Polish Ducat coin is the most valuable coin in Polish history. Printed with an intricate bust of King Sigismund III, the coin was likely minted to celebrate the Battle of Khotyn. Not only is it a beautiful coin, but it’s a historically relevant one; it is an old and rare press. It was last auctioned in 2018 for a total of $2.16 million by the Classical Numismatic Group.

1787 Brasher Doubloon (EB)

Heritage Auctions

Year: 1787

Denomination: 1 doubloon

Last sold: 2021

Sold for: $9 million

Designed by Ephraim Brasher, the 1787 Brasher Doubloon is known to be one of the most valuable coins in the United States. It’s also one of the most valuable collectibles, period. Last sold for $9 million in 2021, the Brasher Doubloon has even been featured in mystery novels. It’s one of the few rare coins that’s notable for its designer. Ephraim Brasher was known for being able to produce remarkable coins, both in terms of design and purity.

1795 Draped Bust Gold Eagle

PCGS

Year: 1795

Denomination: $10

Last sold: 2006

Sold for: $494,500

In 1795, 5,583 gold eagle coins were produced. These are some of the first gold coins produced in the U.S., and many believe that only about 550 of them remain today. The $10 coin would have been worth around $223 today, so the coins were generally held back rather than circulated. Because of this, they are also usually found in excellent condition.

1796 Turban Head Gold Quarter Eagle

USA Coin Book

Year: 1796

Denomination: $2.50

Last sold: 1995

Sold for: $605,000

The first Turban Head Gold Quarter Eagle was produced in 1796. One type has no stars featured on the coin, while the other type does. Regardless, even “Fine” quarter eagles can bring in about $50,000. The most ever paid for a 1796 Turban Head was $605,000 back in 1995, so it’s safe to say it’s appreciated in value since then. Unusual coin values can help with rarity; in this case, $2.50 was a rarer denomination.

1798 Turban Head Gold Half Eagle

USA Coin Book

Year: 1798

Denomination: $5

Last sold: N/A

Est. price: $2 million

This impressive coin is extremely rare. It’s believed that only seven of them exist. Two of them are currently in the National Numismatic Collection. Because they are so rare, it’s difficult to actually attribute a price to them, but it’s estimated that an uncirculated coin would be worth upwards of $2 million.

1804 Eagle Gold Coin

USA Coin Book

Year: 1804

Denomination: $10

Last sold: 2007

Sold for: $5 million

Here’s another extraordinarily rare coin. It’s believed that only six of these coins were struck, and only three of them still exist. In 1804, the mint had stopped producing this denomination, as it was a high denomination and not frequently used. But President Andrew Jackson wanted to use them as gifts. Today, the coins are held by the American Numismatic Association and by private collectors. In 2007, one of these coins sold in a private sale for $5 million.

1808 Capped Bust Gold Quarter Eagle

USA Coin Book

Year: 1808

Denomination: $2.50

Last sold: 2015

Sold for: $2.35 million

The 1808 $2.50 gold coin was only produced for a single year; the coin was redesigned in 1808, but it wasn’t produced again until 1821 — at which point the design was again changed. While it features a remarkable design, it’s mostly valuable due to its rare production. During times of die variety, there were a lot of very briefly run coins.

1815 Capped Head Gold Half Eagle in Bold Relief

1815 Capped Head Gold Half Eagle Coin in Bold Relief

USA Coin Book

Year: 1815

Denomination: $5

Last sold: 2009

Sold for: $460,000

There were only a little more than 600 of these coins first produced with only 12 known to currently exist. Most of the 12 known to exist are in museums or residing with private collectors. Because it’s not known exactly how rare they are, pricing them all out can be difficult. In 2009, one sold for $460,000.

1822 Half Eagle Gold Coin

PCGS

Year: 1822

Denomination: $5

Last sold: 2021

Sold for: $8.4 million

It’s believed there are only three remaining 1822 Half Eagle Gold Coins, available in the National Numismatic Collection and in private hands. These Half Eagle Gold Coins don’t need to be in exceptional condition to get a high price, as their value comes largely from how rare they are.

1825 Capped Bust Gold Half Eagle

USA Coin Book

Year: 1825

Denomination: $5

Last sold: N/A

Est. value: $2 million

When it comes to coins, mistakes are worth more. The 1825 Capped Bust Gold Half Eagle is notable for its date. The 1824 date has been clearly stamped over with 1825; the same dies were used to cast the coin as the 1824, and then the 1825 was stamped over. It’s believed there are only two coins with this print in existence.

1829 Proof Capped Bust Gold Half Eagle

USA Coin Book

Year: 1829

Denomination: $5

Last sold: 2012

Sold for: $1.38 million

Originally, there were nearly 60,000 Half Eagles minted. But the rare ones are the proof coins, of which there were only four to eight. Half of the coins were produced without a collar with a large date, while another half were produced with a collar and a small date. All these coins are considered to be unique, interesting and collectible, due to the exceptional quality of the striking process — but only the proofs will command incredibly high prices from a coin collector.

1833 Proof Capped Bust Gold Half Eagle

USA Coin Book

Year: 1833

Denomination: $5

Last sold: 2016

Sold for: $1.35 million

This is a unique and rare coin; only two are known. One is owned by a private collector, and the other is on display at the Smithsonian. What’s exceptional about this particular coin is that it’s so incredibly high-quality. It does not appear to have been ever circulated; it’s in perfect condition as though it has never been touched, despite being 200 years old. Any coin buyer will appreciate a pristine coin, whether it’s made of gold, silver or another precious metal.

1839 Proof Liberty Head Gold Eagle

PCGS

Year: 1839

Denomination: $10

Last sold: 2007

Sold for: $1.61 million

It’s estimated that only three of these coins are still available. Like many of the other coins on this list, an older die was used to proof these coins. The die from the 1838 coin was used and then modified. This irregularity makes this coin both exceptionally rare and very collectible.

1854 Coronet Head Gold Half Eagle

USA Coin Book

Year: 1854

Denomination: $5

Last sold: N/A

Est. value: $5 million

In the coin world, this is a very sought after piece. Exactly 268 of the 1854 Coronet Head Gold Half Eagle coins were made — and it’s believed that three still remain. Unlike many other collectible coins, it’s unknown why so few of the coins were made, but it’s the mystery that can be alluring for a coin collector.

It’s possible that some of the materials necessary for production were unavailable, but other gold dollars were being produced at the same time. Despite having a limited run, the coins were still released into circulation. They are so incredibly rare that it’s difficult to say what they would sell for at auction.

1856 Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle

Heritage Auctions

Year: 1856

Denomination: $20

Last sold: 2009

Est. value: $1.44 million

The 1856 Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle was run in a batch of 2,250, but they’re particularly special because of the quality of the mint. While many coins minted in the same factory had obscured details due to a soft strike, the Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle has an extremely detailed press.

Because of the detail of the press, these can resemble proof coins … but they’re just very well struck. Still, they’re worth more than many proof coins themselves.

1861 Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle (Philadelphia)

Heritage Auctions

Year: 1861

Denomination: $20

Last sold: 2014

Est. value: $1.65 million

An error coin, these 1861 Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle coins were only produced for a little while before a technical flaw caused the run to be canceled. The rim of the coin was too narrow, and it was believed that the coin would wear out. There had already been nearly 20,000 coins put into production in San Francisco, but Philadelphia produced only three. Thus, the Philadelphia mint coins are far more expensive.

1870 Indian Princess Head Gold

USA Coin Book

Year: 1870

Denomination: $3

Last sold: 1946

Sold for: $11,500

This is a unique piece. Only a single coin exists. One coin was produced and it was then placed in the San Francisco Mint. This coin was purchased in 1946 for $11,500, but obviously it’s much rarer and likely much more valuable. It’s believed that it would be worth nearly $6 million if it was sold today.

1874 Thomas Francois Burgers – Fine Beard

National Numismatic Collection

Year: 1874

Denomination: 1 pond (pound)

Last sold: 2014

Sold for: $103,000

While not the most valuable coin out there, this one is quite interesting historically and in terms of design. The 1874 Thomas Francois Burgers was the first gold coinage used by South Africa. It is notable because some prints have a “fine beard” and some prints have a “coarse beard,” with coarse beards being much rarer.

1880 Proof Stella Coiled Hair

PCGS

Year: 1880

Denomination: $4

Last sold: 2013

Sold for: $2.5 million

This U.S. Mint coin was produced as an experimental issue. The 1879 Flowing Hair design has 425 coins minted, but the Coiled Hair design was only produced in a batch of eight. These coins contain 6 grams of gold and are printed in the denomination of $4, which is another rarer denomination.

1899 King of South African Coin

Coin Week

Year: 1899

Denomination: 1 pond (pound)

Last sold: 2010

Sold for: $4 million

This extraordinary coin is actually a misprint, after a fashion. During the South African War of Independence (1899 to 1902), old minting plates from 1898 were used to cast these gold coins. An oversized “9” was stamped on the coin to distinguish it. But once it was noticed that the 9 obscured the president’s bust, production of the coin stopped, making this coin both notable and rare.

1907 Satin Proof Indian Gold Eagle

PCGS

Year: 1907

Denomination: $10

Last sold: 2011

Sold for: $2.19 million

Only 50 of these coins were produced, but it’s believed that about a dozen of them still exist. These coins featured a high-relief design that was difficult to strike quickly. This also means that the most expensive examples of this coin have full relief, while other examples may be in lower relief. It’s believed that this coin may have sold for up to $3 million.

1907 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle

PCGS

Year: 1907

Denomination: $20

Last sold: 2005

Sold for: $2.99 million

Augustine Saint-Gaudens was commissioned to produce new $20 coins in 1907. He came up with an extraordinary, high-relief design that required a special coining process; unfortunately, the coining process was not up to mass production. A few of the high-relief coins were produced, but most of them were produced in low relief. The high-relief coins remain exceptionally sought-after and valuable, usually selling for over $2 million.

1920 Indian Gold Eagle

USA Coin Book

Year: 1920

Denomination: $10

Last sold: 2007

Sold for: $1.73 million

There were more than 120,000 $10 golden eagles produced throughout 1920, as they were one of the most common denominations of coin at the time. However, because they were highly circulated, there are very few mint quality coins available. Most of these coins will “just” run $20,000 to $50,000, proving that with coins, quality is everything.

1927-D Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle

PCGS

Year: 1927

Denomination: $20

Last sold: 2014

Sold for: $2 million

Only about 12 1927-D gold pieces are believed to be in circulation today. While nearly 200,000 of them were produced in 1927, they were ordered to be melted down in 1933. Upon melting them down, only a handful of the coins remained. This coin is in-demand not only because of this but because it’s also one of the last Saint-Gaudens coins designed.

1933 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle

PCGS

Year: 1933

Denomination: $20

Last sold: 2002

Sold for: $7.6 million

It’s a story you could write a book about — and certainly, some have. Originally, the 1933 Double Eagle was far from being a rare coin; nearly half a million of these double eagles were produced. But because of the 1934 Gold Reserve Act, they were all melted down except for 22 of them.

Two were known, and 20 were stolen. The U.S. Secret Service has since destroyed nine of the stolen Double Eagles, but others remain in circulation in private collections. In 2002, one believed to be owned by King Farouk was sold for $7.6 million. It was later auctioned off again for a staggering $18 million.

1991 10,000 Yuan Gold Panda

NGC

Year: 1991

Denomination: 10,000 yuan

Last sold: 2011

Sold for: $1.5 million

In 1991, the Chinese government released only 10 of the 10,000 Yuan Gold Panda coins. Each coin contains around 176 ounces of gold. The print of the coin features a number of other panda coin designs as well as the iconic Temple of Heaven. In 2011, one of the Yuan Gold Panda coins was sold for $1.5 million. Not only is that an expensive coin, but it’s one of the most expensive world coins.

1992 2,000 Yuan Gold

NGC

Year: 1992

Denomination: 2,000 yuan

Last sold: 2011

Sold for: $1.3 million

Similar to the 10,000 Yuan Gold Pandas, the 2,000 Yuan Gold coins were released to celebrate Chinese achievements. And while the denomination was lower, another still sold at auction for $1.3 million.

2007 Canadian Gold Maple Leaf

GovMint

Year: 2007

Denomination: $1 million

Last sold: 2010

Sold for: $4 million

Well, if you end up with this in your pocket, you’ll know. A novelty coin made of more than 200 pounds of gold, the 2007 Canadian Gold Maple Leaf was created as a promotional piece for the new (regular-sized) Gold Maple Leaf coins. It was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2007 as the World’s Largest Gold Coin, at about 20 inches wide and an inch thick. But even though the denomination was $1 million, the coin sold at auction for over $4 million … and was promptly stolen.