13 Rare Coins You Should Never Spend
Rare coins can be obtained in different ways. While the most valuable items around the world remain in the hands of dealers, others can appear in your loose change.
National mints often produce commemorative editions which enter into regular circulation. Over time, the scarcer coins can become seriously valuable and should not be spent on everyday purchases.
The coins here include a mix of rarities that are out of circulation and are among the most sought-after among collectors. Others are more modern productions that could fetch more resale value than you might expect.
1. USA: Morgan Silver Dollar
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All silver dollars attract a level of interest. They are attractive items that appeal to collectors all over the world. There’s value in each release, but the Morgan and Peace Dollars fetch the most when they come up at auction.
Morgan Silver Dollars tend to attract more buyers, and when one example was auctioned in 2013, the hammer fell at a cool $881,250.
2. USA: Sacagawea Cheerios Dollar
It’s not often that a freebie from a cereal box could change your life, but that’s the case with this rare Cheerios dollar. In 2000, the United States Mint produced 5,500 of these Sacagawea coins, and the vast majority are relatively worthless.
Like many regular coins, however, the Cheerios versions contained some misprints. Around 60 have extra tail feathers on the US Eagle, and if you come across one, it could be worth up to $25,000.
3. UK: Kew Gardens 50p
Over the last twenty years, The Royal Mint in the UK has released a number of special edition 50p coins. One of the most popular is the Beatrix Potter series, and I made a serious error of judgment when I used one of the scarcer coins in a parking machine.
Of all the releases, the Kew Gardens 50p piece is the rarest. Valuations vary, but you could expect to pay around $200 on the secondary markets, which represents a significant increase in the coin’s face value.
4. USA: Massachusetts 2000-P Quarter
The United States Mint also issues commemorative coins on occasion, and some carry far more than their face value. It’s always worth checking your change, and if you come across a Massachusetts 2000-P Quarter, do not be tempted to spend it.
Like most coins on this list, the value will vary depending on the condition and whether you can attract two or more bidders to push up an auction price. It’s certainly worth knowing that a mint condition Massachusetts 2000-P Quarter once fetched an impressive $3,760.
5. USA: 1913 Liberty Head Nickel
The rarest of misprints made its way into circulation in the early part of the twentieth century. In 1913, the US Mint planned to switch the design of the nickel from a liberty head to a buffalo head.
Before the change was implemented, five coins containing the old liberty head design were released. Over 100 years later, they are the rarest of all nickels. In 2022, one sold at auction for a staggering $4.2 million.
6. UK: 1983 New Pence 2p Coin
In 1983, another misprint saw a coin rocket to significantly more than its face value. In 1983, the UK’s Royal Mint began to produce a regular run of 2p coins. The reverse was intended to show the words “two pence,” but on the errors, this appears as “new pence.”
It may seem like a small mistake, but it can lead to a big reward. Anyone finding this in their loose change could be looking at a value in the region of $650.
7. USA: 1894 Barber Dime
Barber coinage is collectible, and a regular dime could fetch up to $100 in mint condition. If, however, you come across an 1894 version, you might start thinking about retirement plans.
Only 24 were minted in that year, and it’s thought that twelve have survived. In 2016, one of the surviving pieces came close to the $2 million mark when it was sold at auction.
8. USA: 1996 Olympics High Jump Silver Dollar
A series of commemorative coins were produced to celebrate the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Sixteen were produced in total, and while all are highly collectible, the high jump version attracts the most interest.
Prices average out at around $300, but a mint condition high jump coin can sell for $500 or more. It’s always worth checking your change jar!
9. USA: 1996 Paralympics Silver Dollar
The US Mint produced this Paralympic coin as part of its 16-edition series. It was important to keep the item inclusive and not to issue it as a separate entity.
The coin quickly became one of the most collectible in the set, and it rivals the high jump version in terms of value. Do not spend it if you find one: The 1996 Paralympics Silver Dollar is worth up to $300 depending on its condition.
10. Australia: 2000 1$ Mule
Printing errors are less common in modern coin production, but they can happen, and if you find a misprint, you can cash in. In 2000, the Australian Mint released a new coin, but a small batch contained a basic mistake.
A wrong diecast was used, and the ten-cent reverse was used instead. Around 6,000 misprinted versions of the 1$ Mule went into circulation, and they can be worth between $300 and $4000 depending on the condition.
11. USA: 2001 Buffalo Dollar
The 2001 Buffalo Dollar features a stunning design by James Earle Fraser, and you should definitely hold on in the unlikely event that one appears in your change.
This 2001 commemorative issue is among the most valuable of all recent US releases. Prices vary greatly, and while you can pick up a good example for around $50, anything in mint condition can extend beyond $200.
12. UK: 2002 Commonwealth Games £2 Coin
The highest face value item in regular UK circulation is the £2 coin. Commemorative editions are issued, but they tend to be worth less than their special 50p counterparts.
If you find one of the rarities, you should still keep it rather than spend it. At the top of the list of rare UK £2 coins is the one minted for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, which can be worth up to £100 in mint condition.
13. UK: 1933 Penny
The official story is that just six penny coins were produced and released into circulation in the UK in 1933. The suspicion is that a few more were struck, but whatever the truth may be, they are seriously valuable.
You cannot use one as legal tender in the UK, and that’s just as well. If you were to make a mistake and lose a 1933 penny, you would likely be saying goodbye to a figure in excess of $150,000.
