Collecting coins and dollars is a useful hobby, and those who have been collecting rare coins for years will value their collectibles like no other! Some have even passed down this hobby from generation to generation, and their coins are unique and extremely rare. While not every coin may be worth thousands of dollars, some unique ones are highly valued as they are amongst the rarest dollar coins and bills in the country’s history.
Susan B. Anthony dollar prices
The Susan B. Anthony coins were introduced in the year 1979 but lasted only 3 years in the market. The coins were discontinued after a controversial public reaction to them but were reintroduced again in the year 1999, post which they stopped the circulation completely.
Susan B. Anthony was one of the important figures in the women’s suffragettes movement and was known for her activism to help women live in an equal world. In the year 1872, she registered to vote and even cast a ballot during elections, even though women were not allowed to vote till then. She was charged for this illegal act and was ordered to pay $100 for it, which she never did. Sadly she passed away just over a decade before women in the country were allowed to vote. The coin was minted in her honor, and the public was not happy with the kind of controversy her activism had created years before. The value of the coin today varies depending on the year of production and also the condition of the coin, but to give an idea, a 1980 Susan B. Anthony coin can potentially reach $20 to $50 and even more if the coin is well kept.
Two-dollar bill
According to the U.S. Currency Auctions, a two-dollar bill can be valued at $4,500 in the collectibles market. These are the dollars printed in the 19th century, with the first print circulating in the year 1862. The first circulation had a portrait of Alexander Hamilton, but then a redesign in 1868 put Thomas Jefferson’s portrait on the bill. Of course, not all two-dollar bills will be valued the same, but they range from their face value to $4,500. The bills have red or brown seals, but the value does not depend on that; it depends on the circulation period. The 1869 year circulation seems to have good value, and even the ones circulated in the year 1862 range from $500 to $2,800. So if you have a two-dollar bill in your wallet, be careful before spending it at face value and go to a collectibles market to find its real value.
Double Eagle $20 coin
This is one of the most valued dollar coins in the market today. The $20 coin is made of gold and was designed by Augustus Saint Gaudens, after whom the coin is named. They were minted from 1907 to 1933 at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt. Now depending on the year the coin was minted in and the condition of the coin, the value of it appreciates or depreciates. If you have a 1907 minted Saint Gaudens Double Eagle $20 coin, then it is valued at around $1139 or close to the gold rate at the time of evaluation. If you have a coin in great shape, you may want to get it graded by a professional service like the PCGS or NGC that help in identifying the grade of the coin and can then allow you to know the exact value of the coin. Some coins even value at $8600, like the 1908-S uncirculated minted Saint Gaudens.
Flowing Hair Dollar
This is a 1794 minted dollar coin made out of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. The reason why this coin is so valuable is because it is believed to be one of the first coins to be minted by the U.S. Mint. The coin features an eagle on one side and the portrait of Lady Liberty on the other with hair flowing – as the name suggests.
According to the National Museum of American History, it was in 1794 that 1,758 coins were made in the first day of minting. They were not used for circulation in the market but were used as souvenirs for the dignitaries like congressmen, VIPs, and other important citizens. Some say that after the independence, this was more of a symbolic gesture to announce to the world that the country was capable of minting its own coins using precious metals. Very few are still around, and usually, the coin is up for auction every couple of years. The last time the coin was auctioned off was in the year 2013 for $10 million dollars.
1890 Grand Watermelon Bill
The most expensive treasury note, the 1890 Grand Watermelon, is a $1000 bill that has been described as the “Holy Grail” of the American currency. It got the nickname Grand Watermelon because of the giant zeros on the back of the note, which resembled the fruit. Since the note is of such high value, there were very few which were printed, and even fewer remain today. They are so rare that in the year 2014, one of the notes was sold for $3,290,000. It is said that the government collectibles hold three of these bills as a testament to the note’s rarity and value.
High Relief Peace Dollar
These coins were first minted in the year 1922, but their production was not as smooth as one would have hoped. The dies on the coin were an issue, and production was halted till this could be resolved. The government decided that they would design a coin with lower relief and lower quality, which could be circulated to the general public. However, these coins eventually were all melted down by the U.S. Mint, and only 10 to 12 coins now remain, which are High Relief Matte Proof Peace Dollars. The value of the coin is estimated to be around $292,380 by the USA Coin Book.
