The coin that sold for around $7 million (specifically $7.6 million in 2002) is the legendary 1933 Double Eagle, a $20 U.S. gold coin with a mysterious history of being secretly circulated before being confiscated and eventually sold legally, becoming the world's most valuable coin at the time. Another rare coin, an 1861 Double Eagle with a Paquet Reverse, also sold for $7.2 million in 2021, a record for its type, according to Antiques And The Arts Weekly.
The world's most valuable coin ever sold at auction is the 1933 Double Eagle.
A 1980 Australian $200 Koala gold coin is worth significantly more than its face value, primarily based on its gold content (10g of 22ct gold) and current gold price, but also with some numismatic value, often trading in the range of AU$1,500 to over AU$2,000 depending on the market, condition (proof vs. uncirculated), and dealer, as it contains about 0.295 troy ounces of pure gold.
Weitzman's decision to reveal himself as the coin's owner since 2002 coincided with his decision to sell it, in a Sotheby's auction scheduled for June 2021. The coin was cataloged as Lot 1 in Sotheby's June 8, 2021 auction, and sold that day for $18,872,250.
The Flowing Hair Dollar sold for $10 million at auction in 2013 to set a new world record for the highest price ever paid for a rare coin, CNN reported.
A 1943-S bronze Lincoln cent sold in August 2007 for $1 million to a collector. This sale was a private transaction rather than an auction. Another 1943 copper penny from the Philadelphia mint was sold by Legend Numismatics of Lincroft, New Jersey, for $1.7 million in September 2010.
The Proof 1930 Penny is Australian 'numismatic' royalty. The 'King' of Australian coin rarities. It is the nation's most valuable penny, the most recent sale occurring in 2024 for for $750,000.
Rick checks out the most expensive item in Pawn Stars history--the only 1933 Double Eagle gold coin for sale in the world. See more in this scene from Season 22, Episode 10, "The 30 Million Dollar Deal."
In 1933, the Royal Mint were still trying to solve the problems of ghosting, and they continued to produce a number of experimental designs. A small number of these were tested by striking coins, pennies, from the experimental die designs. As these were not intended for circulation, they were never issued.
The 50-cent coin that can be worth around $15,000 is the rare 1988 Australian 50c error coin, mistakenly struck with the standard Coat of Arms instead of the commemorative First Fleet design, with only a couple known, though more might be found; it's a "mule" error from the Royal Australian Mint, making it extremely valuable to collectors.
An Australian 2000 $1 "Mule" coin, created by mistake using the smaller 10-cent coin's head (obverse) die, can be worth up to $3,000 due to its distinct double rim and off-center appearance, but its value depends heavily on its condition, with only a few thousand believed to exist.
With a history spanning over 800 years, there are many rare and collectible Halfpenny coins. Even some of the most recent United Kingdom decimal coins are sought-after by numismatics or coin collectors, and can now sell for around £100. More historical Halfpenny coins have sold for well over £300.
The one remaining specimen is carefully preserved at National Numismatic Collections at the Smithsonian Institution. The 1849 Double Eagle is currently the rarest and most valuable coin in the world, with an estimated value of around $20 million.
The 1959-D wheat penny is one of the most controversial mule coins ever. It's worth $50,000! Here's everything you could possibly want to know about the 1959-D penny error!
The Rarest £1 Coins
The 2022-dated £1 coin is currently the rarest £1 in circulation. With a mintage of just 7,735,000 it features the portrait of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and marks the transition to the coinage of King Charles III. Find out more about rare £1 coins here.
Top 20 Most Expensive Things in the World (2025 Edition): From Billion-Dollar Art to Ultra-Rare Cars
The man, the myth, the legend—Rick Harrison. You know him as the star of Pawn Stars, the reality show based on the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas. The show has been running for over 21 seasons, and Rick himself has become the godfather of the pawn business.
Pawn 1 is owned by Mark Lax, president; his cousin, Mark Silver, vice president of store development; and Rumpler, a family friend who was promoted to CEO in January after having served as the companys chief financial officer since 1995.
This is a 1933 Double Eagle. It looks like an ordinary twenty-dollar gold coin. But this innocent-looking piece of metal just sold for NINETEEN MILLION DOLLARS.
For example, the 1933 Double Eagle gold coin, minted but never legally circulated, is considered government property and therefore illegal to own. In fact, owning one of these rare $20 coins today is not just illegal but may result in confiscation.
Rare Australian $1 coins often involve minting errors, like the valuable 2000 $1 Mule (heavy rim error) or the 2001 Federation $1 with a rotated die, but some low mintage commemorative coins like the 2016 Changeover $1 (Florin design) are also sought after, with values depending on year, condition, and unique features, potentially worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Coins worth over $1 million are typically extremely rare historical U.S. gold and silver coins (like the 1933 Double Eagle or 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar) or modern ultra-rare novelties (like the 100kg Canadian Gold Maple Leaf) with few known examples, often due to minting errors, historical significance, or extreme scarcity, with sales reaching tens of millions.
Other rare 50 cent coins to look for include those from 1985 and 1993, which were other low mintage years. In 1985, only one million 50 cent coins were produced by the Mint making them worth between $15 and $40 each. In 1993, there were also only one million 50 cent coins made.