Most Expensive Coin in the World
Written by: tom Filed Under: Collectibles, United States, World on November 8th, 2006Coin collecting is a hobby to many people who often begin collecting simply by saving noteworthy coins they have found in circulation. Old and rare coins are often more valuable than their printed amount. This may lead a curious person to ask, what is the most expensive coin in the world?
In 1933, 445,000 gold Double Eagle coins were minted. At this time, during the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt took the U.S. off the gold standard. People were ordered to turn in their gold and no more gold coins were to be issued for circulation. All of the 1933 Double Eagles were ordered to be destroyed. Some of these coins escaped the melting. Two were given to the Smithsonian Institute for the U.S. National Numismatic Collection. In the 1950’s the Secret Service confiscated eight more of these 1933 Double Eagles.
The true story may never be known as to how they left the mint, but a coin dealer sold at least nine of them and one ended up in the collection of King Farouk of Eqypt. 40 years later, the coin showed up in New York in the possession of a coin dealer. The Secret Service seized the expensive coin and a legal battle began in court. During the several years of litigation, the expensive collectible was stored in the Treasury vaults at the World Trade Center, but after the lawsuit was finally settled in 2001 the coin was moved and later auctioned off on July 30, 2002 for $6.6 million, plus a buyer’s fee of 15% for a total price for the world’s most expensive coin $7,590,020.
In 2004. ten more specimens of the gold Double Eagle coins were discovered among the effects of the coin dealer who sold the previous specimens. One of his heirs sent all ten to the U.S. Mint to be authenticated and the Secret Service seized them. They now reside in Fort Knox while a new legal battle is fought over their ownership of these copies of the most expensive coin ever sold.
For more articles about coin collecting visit Dave’s Coin Odyssey
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I have one of those in my car cup holder, between the dime and the penny.
Is it just the 1933 Double Eagle that is valuable? I have one that is 100 years old but I can’t seem to find its value.
OMG
i havea whole bunch of these things in my atic because i used towork in the bank industry. A long time back. WOW IM I REALLY RICH. hope so.
well i dont have it … but i m looking for one …. especially those 20 dollar coin … i really dont know how much it cost … but i love them n i like collecting old stuff
Wow my grandfather gave me one off those
i just resently sold 2 of them for 9.2 million and bought a lamborghini galardo
curious how did you actually sell them without the gov or secret service seizing them? And what is up with that, they can just take someone’s property? Who do the laws actually protect. I think I would be careful about admitting I had one if they are taking them away. Just my opinion.
One of my grandfathers had one of these and the goverment took it from him im sad
i have 100rupees indian note singed by sir jb tylor and the eagle holding the snake.i also have coin of mugle time inthe coine one side is written la elaha illala .and one side picture of mecca sharif & madina sharif made in the year of 1616. my mobile number;00919867004435
Noor Shaikh.. How much are you selling your 100 rupees indian note may i ask?
i have an gold coin older since 1800 yrs old there is madina sharif made on that coin made in 13 hijri my phone nos -+919867134424
som of these comments are very stupid in nature. The Lamborghini does not cist 9+ million dollars. Even if this is an exotic italian car made in Bologna, Italy, a brand new car, like the one I own goes for $ 365000, and it has virtually everything in it. If you really bought it for 9+ million dollars, I would sell you mine for 2.5 million. That, in your world will be a bargain for you, I suppose.
… some of u pepl who are saying that u sold the coin are stupid as far as i no there is only 1 that is in legal circulation.
that i no of
also the 1933 coin not any other year
I’ve been wondering what is a silver dime worth do any of you know?
holy crap!!!!!!!!!!! expesive enough….i could proubley buy one anyway
let me buy one please
there worth 900 in gold weight or 2000 each