Old and interesting coins are great fun to find, look at, and collect, particularly if you love history and have an interest riches. You may dream of finding extraordinary (and valuable) coins in an old piece of furniture or building a large coin collection that will one day be worth a mountain of money.
Several expensive coins have been found in spare rooms, attics and storage sheds, amongst others. But even although you cannot control your luck, you can manage your knowledge of precious coins. Read on to find out about some of the most precious globally, so you know what to look out for.
1787 Fugio Cent – America
Historians believe that the first coin ever to circulate in America after it was newly minted was the Fugio penny, in 1787. It is also known as the Franklin penny in reference to Benjamin Franklin, one of the nation’s founding fathers. This expensive collection contains a sun and sundial above it, plus the Latin word “fugio”, which is a variation of the verb “to run away.” Put together, the details create the impression of time flying.
The coin also had a prayer on the bottom of one side saying “mind your business”, which at the time was meant to be strictly conscious of business dealings. The other side of the coin has the motto “We are one” plus a chain with 13 links. The chain represents the first 13 states in the US. Current Fugio penny values range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars for very rare variants in better condition.
723 Umayyad Gold Dinar – Islam
When it comes to Islamic coins, they’re worth no more than 723 very old Umayyad gold dinars. This coin was created from gold mined on the premises of the Caliph himself. It is the first gold coin to mention a location in present-day Saudi Arabia, and is greatly rare, with only a couple of dozen notable items in existence today.
The coin features the phrase “mine commander of the faithful” (translated) marked on it and, while similar dinars can only sell for hundreds of dollars, coins with this special text are rare and valuable. The most recently sold Umayyad 723 gold dinar near five million dollars in late 2019 but earlier, in 2011, another version of the coin sold around six million at auction.
1794 Silver Dollar Flowing Hair – America
One of the most costly silver coins ever sold, the 1794 flowing hair silver dollar is believed to be the first silver dollar ever created by the United States Mint. This highly coveted and valuable work was sold at auction in 2013 for a little over $10 million and then for a powerful sum $12 million recently.
The obverse contains a rendering of Lady Liberty with her hair down, hence the coin’s name. Behind him is the American eagle. It is alleged there are fewer than 130 coins left worldwide, with less than 1,800 ever being produced.
1343 Edward III Florin – England
England was not left behind when it came to creating precious coins. The 1343 Edward III Florin, for example, is among the oldest and rarest coins, with only three in existence after all the centuries since the currency was first circulated. Most of the original coins were melted down centuries ago. Known as the “double leopard”, this coin was valued at around six shillings in medieval England but is valued at around $6.8 million today.
Two of the three known Florins are housed in the British Museum in London. The coin features an image of King Edward III on his throne with two leopard heads on either side. On the other side of the piece, there’s a Royal Cross in a quatrefoil (a symmetrical shape with the overall lines of four equally sized circles that partially overlap). The double leopard is taken into account the most precious British coin today.
Some other valuable coins worth studying include a $1 million Canadian dinner plate-sized gold maple leaf from 2007 and the St. George’s gold double eagle. American Gaudens, $20 gold coin from the early 1900’s. Obviously, there are various kinds of coins that are interesting to find out about. Coin collecting is also a fun hobby, and you never know what you might find.
However, meanwhile, if you want to invest in gold or silver, you can do so by buying products from mints or banks or the like. A pure gold bars or a stash of silver can be a terrific vehicle for diversifying your portfolio over the years. However, perform some research and only buy from respectable and verified sellers.
