What Are History's Most Valuable Coins?

Neil / Carter/ Contursi 1794 Flowing Hair Silverauction in July 2002, fetching $7,590,020.
DollarEdward III Double Leopard
The coin's "pedigree" name comes from previousEngland's first large gold coin, the Edward III
owners, Will W. Neil, who acquired it in 1947,Double Leopard, sold in 2009 for a staggering
Amon Carter Senior, a Fort Worth newspaper£460,000 (US$841,800), making it the most
publisher and Steven Contursi, President of theexpensive English coin ever. Only the 3rd
California-based Rare Coin Wholesalers, who paidspecimen of its kind, it is the only one in a private
"millions of dollars" for the coin in 2003. Its 2010collection, the other 2 residing in the British
sale to the Cardinal Collection EducationalMuseum. The obverse shows a full-length portrait
Foundation (CCEF) for $7,850,000 established aof a crowned Edward III, with orb and sceptre,
record as the world's most valuable coin. Martinenthroned beneath a Gothic portico and flanked
Logies, CCEF director, said, "CCEF will seek to beby a pair of crowned leopards. The reverse
a worthy successor custodian for such anfeatures a floriate cross with crowns at the
important U.S. historical treasure. I think it onlypoints, within a quadrilobe with four leopards in the
fitting that the new world's record coin price beangles. Much of the coin's value lies in the fact
accorded to the world's finest 1794 dollar." Thethat it was only legal tender for 7 months, being
obverse of the coin features the iconic,replaced in July 1344 by the Gold Noble.
flowing-haired Miss Liberty, surrounded by 15The 1895 Morgan Dollar
stars, with the word "Liberty" above and theThe proper term for this coin type, depicting Lady
1794 date below. The words "United States ofLiberty, is the "Liberty Head" dollar. The "Morgan
America" surround an eagle perched on an oliveDollar" name came about from the design of the
branch on the reverse. Various, renownedcoin by George T. Morgan. The 1895 issue is
numismatic researchers believe it to be the firstknown as the "King of the Morgan Dollars" due to
1794 silver dollar struck.its rarity and value, with high-quality specimens
1933 Gold Double Eaglefetching in excess of $125,000 at auction. US Mint
440,000 Double Eagle ($20) coins, designed byrecords indicate that 12,000 circulation Morgan
sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, were minted inDollars were struck for 1895, along with 880
1933. However, incoming president, Franklin D.proofs. However, only 80 have been accounted
Roosevelt made it illegal for US citizens to ownfor, all proofs. Opinion is divided amongst
gold. The coins were never officially issued andnumismatic experts as to the fate of the
were all melted down, except for 2 copies thatremainder. A popular theory is that the coins
were sent to the Smithsonian Institute. However,were never minted at all, their existence the
a few of them escaped, one being bought byresult of an accounting error, while others believe
King Farouk of Egypt in 1944. This coin came tothe coins were melted down.