The 7 Most Expensive Coins Ever Sold at Auction

In the world of rare coin sales and top coin auctions, a handful of legendary pieces have shattered records as the most expensive coins ever sold. These seven coins – all legal tender in their time – fetched jaw-dropping prices without any inflation adjustments. In this casual yet informative tour, we’ll count down these record-setting coins, explore their original sale prices, and learn what makes each of them so special to collectors. From U.S. classics to a Chinese rarity, each coin’s story offers a fascinating glimpse into why collectors around the globe go to extremes to own these treasures.

Top 7 Record-Breaking Coin Auctions

1. 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle (U.S. $20 Gold) 

This coin tops virtually every list of the most expensive coins ever sold, and for good reason. The 1933 Double Eagle is a legendary rarity that almost didn’t exist in private hands – making its appearance in a top coin auction a huge event. Collectors are captivated by its backstory (most 1933 gold coins were melted by the U.S. government) and its status as the single 1933 Double Eagle that could legally be owned. In casual terms, this coin is the ultimate “holy grail” of American coin collecting, combining extreme rarity, a touch of mystery, and an astronomical auction result.

• Sale Price: $18,872,250 (world-record price for any coin at the time).
  
  
• Year Sold: 2021 (sold on June 8, 2021, after intense bidding).
  
  
• Origin/Year Minted: United States, 1933 (a $20 gold piece designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens; never circulated due to the 1933 gold recall).
  
  

2. 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar 

A highlight in any discussion of the most expensive coins ever sold is the 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar – America’s first silver dollar coin. Often regarded as one of the most expensive coins in the world, it boasts both extraordinary rarity and historical significance. In a 2013 auction, its superb quality and importance (as a likely special presentation strike) drove spirited bidding. Collectors love this coin not only for its age but because it represents the very beginning of U.S. federal coinage in silver.

• Sale Price: $10,016,875 (the first coin to surpass $10 million at auction).
  
  
• Year Sold: 2013 (sold on January 24, 2013).
  
  
• Origin/Year Minted: United States, 1794 (the first year the U.S. Mint struck silver dollar coins).

3. 1787 Brasher Doubloon (New York-style)

The Brasher Doubloon is a famed gold coin from the post-Revolutionary War era, and it firmly ranks among the most expensive coins ever sold. Privately minted in 1787 by New York goldsmith Ephraim Brasher, this doubloon is treasured as one of the first gold coins struck on American soil. When the finest known example (with Brasher’s “EB” hallmark on the eagle’s wing) came up for sale in a 2021 auction, it fetched an eye-watering $9.36 million. This result set a new benchmark for gold coin auctions and proved that even a coin that predates the U.S. 

• Sale Price: $9,360,000.
  
  
• Year Sold: 2021
  
  
• Origin/Year Minted: United States (New York), 1787 (gold doubloon privately struck by Ephraim Brasher, just before the U.S. Mint was established in 1792).

4. 1822 Capped Bust Half Eagle ($5 Gold) 

The 1822 Half Eagle might look like an ordinary classic coin, but it’s actually a legend and undeniably one of the most expensive coins ever sold. In fact, for decades collectors doubted they’d ever get a chance to buy one – only three are known to exist, and two of those reside in the Smithsonian Institution. In March 2021, the sole privately owned example finally appeared at a Stack’s Bowers auction and realized a stunning $8.4 million. This uncirculated $5 gold coin (graded AU50) became the most expensive U.S. gold coin ever auctioned at the time. Why such a high price? The coin’s extreme rarity makes it the missing puzzle piece (or “lynchpin”) for anyone trying to complete a set of early U.S. coins. In casual terms, this Half Eagle is a perfect example of how rare coin sales can skyrocket when a piece is virtually unobtainable.

• Sale Price: $8,400,000.
  
  
• Year Sold: 2021
  

• Origin/Year Minted: United States, 1822 (a $5 gold coin from the Capped Bust series).
  
  

5. 1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar (“King of Coins”) 

The 1804 Silver Dollar frequently appears in conversations about the most expensive coins ever sold, thanks to its nickname “The King of Coins” and the aura that surrounds it. Interestingly, these dollars were not actually struck in 1804 – they were minted in the 1830s as special diplomatic gifts – but their 1804 date and extreme rarity have made them iconic. Only fifteen genuine specimens are known. In August 2021, the finest-known 1804 dollar (from the famous Sultan of Muscat/King of Siam presentation set) was auctioned and realized $7.68 million, placing it among the top five coin prices ever at that time. Collectors highly value this coin for its rich history (it traveled to Asian kings), its perfect condition (graded Proof-68), and its legendary status in the hobby. 

• Sale Price: $7,680,000.
  
  
• Year Sold: 2021 (sold in August 2021 during the ANA World’s Fair of Money).
  
  
• Origin/Year Minted: United States, dated 1804.

6. 1861 Paquet Reverse Double Eagle (U.S. $20 Gold) 

Not all multi-million dollar coins are household names – the 1861 Paquet Double Eagle is a great example. Though less famous to the general public, this coin is a cherished rarity among numismatists and definitely one of the most expensive coins ever sold at auction. It features a modified design on the reverse by Anthony Paquet, an engraver at the U.S. Mint. The design was halted early in 1861, resulting in only two Philadelphia-minted examples surviving for collectors. In a 2021 Heritage auction, the finer of those two specimens (graded MS67) ignited a bidding war and sold for $7.2 million. This price set a new record for any Liberty Head $20 gold. Collectors were wowed by the coin’s combination of superb condition and historical intrigue as a Civil War-era piece that nearly slipped into obscurity.

• Sale Price: $7,200,000.
  
  
• Year Sold: 2021 (sold on August 18, 2021).
  
  
• Origin/Year Minted: United States, 1861
  
  

7. 1903 Fengtien Province Silver Tael (China) 

Rounding out our list of the most expensive coins ever sold is a record-breaker from Asia: the 1903 Fengtien Province Tael. Known as the “King of Chinese Coins,” this hefty silver coin is a unique pattern (test coin) from the late Qing Dynasty. In an August 2022 auction in Beijing, the Fengtien Tael became the most valuable Chinese coin ever sold, fetching over $6.9 million USD. This result affirmed that rare coin sales aren’t just an American phenomenon – collectors worldwide are willing to pay top dollar (or top yuan) for one-of-a-kind treasures. The coin’s value comes from its uniqueness (it’s literally the only known specimen of its kind, its historical significance during a moment of Chinese currency reform, and the growing demand for elite Chinese numismatic rarities.

• Sale Price: $6,900,000 (approx. 46.5 million Chinese yuan).
  
  
• Year Sold: 2022 (sold on August 10, 2022).
  
  
• Origin/Year Minted: China, 1903 (Fengtien Province silver Tael pattern coin, Kuang-hsu era).
  

Coins Worth Millions

In conclusion, these seven coins exemplify what makes a coin truly valuable: extreme rarity, historical significance, high grade condition, and a great story. It’s no coincidence that they’ve become the most expensive coins ever sold at auction – each coin has a unique combination of those factors that drove determined bidders into multimillion-dollar battles. From America’s first silver dollar to the only 1933 Double Eagle a collector can own (and even the “King of Chinese Coins”), these pieces continue to fascinate collectors worldwide. They remind us that coins are more than just currency; they’re tiny time capsules. The allure of owning one of the most expensive coins ever isn’t just about the price tag – it’s about holding a legendary artifact of history in the palm of your hand. That enduring fascination is why record-breaking coins will always shine brightly in the numismatic universe, and why top coin auctions will keep capturing headlines as new chapters in coin lore are written. Each of these rare coins proves that the stories behind them are just as priceless as the coins themselves, ensuring their legacy lives on far beyond the auction hammer’s final strike.