The world is full of coins, but some of them are extremely rare and valuable. Many times, these priceless coins are involved in common transactions, and people do not even recognize them. Today we will tell you about five such rare nickel coins, whose value is staggering—one coin can be worth about 78 million dollars (about Rs 650 crore)!
The world of rare coins and their importance
Numismatics is not just a hobby, but also a way to handle and understand history. This field is not only interesting for collectors and historians, but can also prove to be beneficial for investors.
Most people show interest in gold and silver coins, but sometimes a priceless treasure is hidden in common coins. Nickel coins have been in circulation since 1866, and during this time there have been many changes in their design, minting (coins coming out of the mint), and production. Due to these changes, some coins became very rare and now their price has reached crores.
What makes a coin so rare and valuable?
Any coin meets several criteria to become expensive and rare:
- Rarity: If a coin is minted in small numbers or it is made by mistake, then its price increases.
- Condition: The quality of the coin matters. If the coin is new and uncirculated, then its price can increase manifold.
- Historical Significance: If the coin is associated with a particular historical event, then its demand is high.
- Provenance: If a coin has ever been owned by a famous person, then its price increases even more.
- Market Demand: When the demand for rare coins is high, their price starts touching the heights.
Five rare nickel coins that could be worth up to $78 million
1.1913 Liberty Head Nickel
This is one of America’s most famous and mysterious coins. Its design was discontinued in 1913 and replaced by the ‘Buffalo Nickel’. But for some unknown reason, five coins dated 1913 were produced.
These coins were unknown to the world until 1920, when a former mint employee Samuel Brown informed about them. One of these coins was last sold in 2018 for $4.56 million. If any new coin comes out today, its value could go up to $78 million!
2. 1943-D Copper Nickel
During World War II, the US government removed copper from nickel coins and replaced it with a mixture of silver and manganese. But by mistake some 1943-D nickel coins were made of copper.
So far only one coin has been found, which was sold for 3 million dollars in 2011. Experts believe that there may be four more coins, and if a new coin is found, its price can reach 78 million dollars.
3. 1964 Special Mint Set Jefferson Nickel
In 1964, the US Mint adopted a special minting process, in which some coins were prepared with brilliant shine and fine design.
So far only five coins have been found and none of them have come in public sale. If any of these coins is sold in auction, its price can go up to 78 million dollars.
4. 1939 Doubled Monticello Reverse Nickel
In 1939, a mistake at the US Mint caused the reverse design of some nickel coins to be doubled. This created a slight tilt in the coin’s design.
Only two coins have been found so far. It is believed that three more coins may still be hidden. If any of these new coins are found, they could be worth up to $78 million.
5. 2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf Quarter
Although this is not a nickel coin, it is still worth including on this list. In 2004, some of the Wisconsin state quarter coins featured an extra leaf in the corn design.
Only five coins have been found so far, and there is no record of their true value. Experts believe that if these coins are auctioned, they could also sell for up to $78 million.
How do such valuable coins still remain with common people?
You must be wondering why such expensive coins still circulate among common people? There are many reasons behind this:
- Look like common coins – These rare coins look like common coins, so it is difficult to identify them.
- Wearn over time – Old coins lose their special identity due to wear.
- Not known to people – Many people do not know about these coins.
- Re-circulation by banks – When old coins are returned to banks, they may come back into circulation.
How to identify whether you have a rare coin or not?
If you think you have a rare coin, follow these steps:
Look carefully at the date and design of the coin
- Weigh the coin – The weight of rare coins may be slightly different from common coins.
- Use a magnet – The 1943-D Copper Nickel will not be attracted to a magnet, while the common 1943 nickel sticks to a magnet.
- Get it inspected by an expert – Have the coin inspected by a certified institution like PCGS or NGC.
- Never clean a coin – Cleaning it can reduce the value of the coin.
FAQs
Why are these coins worth so much?
These coins are worth so much because they are scarce, historically significant, possess excellent provenance, and are very coveted. There are few instances of these coins, so they are million-dollar coins.
Can I get a rare nickel coin?
If you possess an older nickel coin, examine it thoroughly for its date, design, and characteristics. If it has a rare variation, it could be extremely valuable!
Are these rare nickel coins actually still out there in circulation?
Yes, a few of these coins are still used in everyday transactions. They are so uncommon that nobody notices their actual worth and inadvertently spend them.
Should I save my old nickel coins?
If you have old nickel coins, it would be wise to keep them in good condition. Even if they are not immediately rare, their value may increase in the future.