What is the rarest coin & most expensive coin in the world???

I guess it also depends on the grade of a coin that makes the value go "WAAY UP"
there's not alot of 1794 with a luster like it just came off the mint
but then again the "unique" factor comes to play...
so rarity and grade = $$$$ which makes it more desirable...

 

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I don't know the correct answer.
The question is phrased like there can be an opinion, but there really can't.
There is a factual answer, I just don't have it.

As U.S. coins go, there have been some great examples of rare and valueable coins mentioned.
I would also like to throw into the mix 2 others:

The "Half Union" $50 gold. If I recall, there were only 2 of those made, and only one survivor, at least in private hands.

The "Stella" $4 gold. There is one version that had only a couple minted.
The Stellas that were minted in greater numbers were handed out to members of congress... Most of those turned up later in D.C. brothels!

Edit:
Pics...

 

I have examined that coin in hand. It is a nice coin but it is not perfect. I remember seeing adjustment marks that were somewhat distracting. The reason that coin brought BIG BIG money is the seller did his homework and "proved" that no other surviving examples were struck earlier from the same dies. In other words, his claim was that his coin was struck before any other surviving examples and it "must be" the "first" Silver Dollar struck by the US Mint. Who knows if his claim is true. Somebody believed it enough to pay BIG TIME to own the "first Silver Dollar struck by the US Mint". I doubt condition was the determining factor in the selling price.

 

I don't believe that the 1879 Flowing Hair Stella had only a couple minted. I remember reading on them and I saw a low mintage of only 425 coins. I don't know about the Coiled Hair one. The 420 mintage could be for both designs.

Here's a proof url:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stella_%28United_States_coin%29


Unless your talking about that modified designs with only 5 examples. All I'm saying is that the Flowing Hair design has 425 examples.

 

If we disregard coins like the 1849 $20 which are unique and held by the Smithsonian or other museum and will likely never be offered for sale, then my vote would be the J-1776 St. Gaudens 1907 $20 Indian Pattern coin...



If it ever comes up for sale again (been owned privately around 30 years) I think it would be around a $15 million coin. Not too shabby.

 

Coiled. I take Morgan's coin over Barber's!
Steve

 

A number of the posters to this thread appear to be confusing value with rarity. Otherwise, they would not have even mentioned coins such as the 1913 Liberty Nickel (5 known) and the 1804 Dollar (more than a dozen known). There are a number of rarer coins than those, even if they aren't as valuable.

Below is an image of a unique pattern piece - J-1776. To many, including myself, it is THE most desirable coin. If it were to become available for sale, I think it might set a new price record.



For those who might be interested, here is some information about it:

http://www.raregold.com/r-propj.htm

 

If you are looking for a coin with the fewest known specimins ... does 0 count?

How about the 1964-D Peace Dollar ... over 300,000 minted ... then later all melted ... none are known to exist.

This is a copy ...


This wont quality for most expensive, since none exist, none ever sold.

 

1933 Saint

 

There are currently more than 10 examples known, and likely others that have not yet surfaced. It is nowhere near the rarest coin.

 

Great minds think alike, Mark. That is my desert island coin.

 

Rare... Well Mr Doug can tell us about a gold coin that had a mintage of 1... Does that make it the most valuable? nope.. simply because of the market for said coin..

Big difference between a coins price vs. a coins value.. tis in the eye of the beholder.. Steves Dollar was a great example as Hobo stated.

 

On a side note when you ask Most Rare & expensive are you asking for two coins 1 rare & 1 expensive?

As for rare, I think my 2010 TAL Coin is the rarest, it only existed in my imagination

Most expensive is rather quite tricky

 

For rare of course, unique coins cannot be any more rare. Lots of them in ancient numismatics, but no one cares so prices not high. It depends on WHY it is unique, (unique type, variety, etc), its historical importance, and of course desirability.

For most expensive, whatever truly great US coin comes on the market. There is a Chain Cent, called "The Coin" by specialists, that could challenge for the most expensive coin if it were sold. I think its a specimen 66 or 67 Red, Ameri variety, believed to be the first cent ever struck. I could see someone spending 10 million on that. Cent collectors probably have better info than me, I am going from a 12-15 year old article I believe.

 

Perhaps that AMERI Chain Cent has improved since it was originally called an MS60. Or could it be that grade inflation is real? Nah!

 

The coin you are thinking of was designated Specimen 67 Brown (not Red) by PCGS.

 

If it was ever graded MS60, it wasn't done by PCGS. And based on what I have heard about the coin, I would be surprised if even EAC graded it that low. But they did, 1)the fact that PCGS (which grades to a different standard) graded it 67 does not mean that gradeflation occurred and 2) it was probably due to its brown color, and not because it was less than amazing, quality-wise.

 

Thanks Mark, I said I was relying on memory of a really old article. It is a special coin, though, and I could see that breaking the 1794 silver dollar sale price if it were offered.

Wasn't there a Red wreath set from the same collection? That would also be a very high end coin.

 

No problem and there was/is indeed a 68RD Wreath Cent listed on the PCGS population report.

 

wow and you'd think precious metal is more expensive but it does depend of the coin
and the number of collectors who are after it....but imagine MS 68 and its dated
1793....geez...dat coin must have stood the test of time.....