Top 10 Most Valuable US Gold Coins – Overall Price Range

Finding US gold coins of a great numismatic value is an exciting and rewarding experience. Once you purchase a gold coin, preferably one that is rare and at least a century old, you can resell it tomorrow at a huge profit. There are striking US gold coins out there, but it is rare to find them. They are precious and costly to purchase. Most of these coins are over 200 years old. If you need one, then you will have to investigate which is the best.

If you are ready to bid at the apex of the market for the coins, you need to be knowledgable about these market rarities. This is the first step you should take if you intend to own one of the rare US gold coins. This article highlights some of the best and most coveted numismatic treasures of US gold coins out there, which are very rare and most valuable.

US Gold Coins

The oldest US gold coins are the most valuable since they are rare. Clients value them for a variety of reasons including:

• 1Their aesthetic appeal
• 2For investment
• 3For gifting
• 4For their numismatic value

The US gold coins could be a thing of the past but are valuable today. Due to their rarity, they have multiplied their value over the years, which is why it is very expensive to buy one. You should realize that there was a time when these rare coins were just money. For instance, the 2004 Wisconsin state quarter is worth more now than it used to.

You should note that the production of the 50 State Quarters was carried out between 1999 and 2008, and each bore a unique design honoring the respective state. The Wisconsin quarter, minted in 2004, featured reverse artwork that showcased a dairy cow, a partly husked ear of corn, and a large wheel of cheese.

Product FAQ

1. What Is a US Gold Coin?

A US gold coin is a coin made of gold. They vary in age, rarity, content, and weight. The rarest coins are the most valuable, which means they are expensive when the owners sell them. The coins are bought for their aesthetic appeal and numismatic value, their rich US history, and extreme beauty.

2. What Do US Gold Coins Do?

They are considered historical artifacts of the United States, and they are great investments since a person who purchases a US gold coin today can sell it tomorrow for profit.

3. How Do US Gold Coins Work?

The value of the US gold coin is directly proportional to how it weighs, age, purity, its content, but the most important factor is its rarity. It is possible for a rare copper coin cast in the 19th century to be far more valuable than its intrinsic value compared to another similar gold coin that is less old and is commonly available. The implies that the most important factor for the valuation of the US gold coin is its rarity and age. The rare and old it is, the more valuable. Therefore, the higher the price it fetches.

4. Where Can You Buy Them?

The rarest gold coins aren’t sold often. In fact, owners auction them so that the highest bidder purchases it. The rarest gold coins in the market raise interest and curiosity of every numismatist out there as they represent a thrilling hunt and the exhilaration of discovery. To buy them you can check with US gold coin auction companies.

How We Reviewed

We invested a lot of time into researching the rarest US gold coins in history. We also consulted with companies involved in auctioneering of these rare coins. We reviewed the best US gold coins based on the following parameters: features, pros & cons, and price.

Overall Price Range of This Product

While the overall price range for the rarest and oldest US gold is between $200,000 and $5,000,000, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact price of a gold coin. It depends on how rare the coin is and can cost more than this price bracket. The overall price of US gold coins depends on the following factors:

• Weight
• Contents
• Purity
• Age
• Rarity

The greater the weight of the coin, the more costly it is. The purest coins are more expensive than those that are less pure. A 3-century old gold coin is more expensive than a 1-century old coin. The rarest gold coins are sold at a higher prices compared to coins that are readily available. Gold coins are usually more expensive than either silver or bronze coins.

Top 10 Most Valuable US Gold Coins

• 11804 Ten Dollar Gold Piece
• 21933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle
• 31933 Indian Head Gold Eagle
• 41870-S Three Dollar Gold Piece
• 51861 Liberty Head $20 Gold Double Eagle
• 61849 Coronet Double Eagle
• 71920-S Indian $10 Gold Eagle
• 81796 Draped Bust $2.50 Gold Quarter Eagle – No Stars
• 91880 Proof $4 Stella Coiled Hair
• 101907 Satin Proof Indian $10 Gold Eagle

1804 Ten Dollar Gold Piece

Features

Key design features include a bust of Lady Liberty facing to the viewer’s right, with the year 1804 at the bottom and the word liberty coupled with 13 stars engraved on it. It also has a design that features a heraldic representation of an eagle that holds a scroll that reads “E Pluribus Unum,” and above it, there are thirteen stars and clouds along with the word “United States of America” along the coin’s periphery. Only ten gold coins were made in 1804, and we know of three that still exist today. The only auctioned coin was from the King of Siam, and it sold for $8.5 million in 2005.

Pros

• Rare
• Valuable
• Made of gold
• Beautiful
• Minimal surface marks

Cons

• None found

1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle

Features

Key features include an eagle in flight backed by a glory and a motto. It has the year 1933 and the words, “United States of America” and “twenty dollars” written on it. Even though 445,500 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle coins were minted in 1933, only a few are available today, which makes this US gold coin valuable.

The government never released the coins into circulation due to Roosevelt’s executive order that suspended gold coinage and confiscated them for melting. Only 20 were saved, as they were stolen and sold to collectors. The Secret Service recovered 19 coins, but 9 were melted down, and now only a handful of them exist today. A private owner bought one in 2002 at $7.59 million.

Pros

• Rare
• Valuable
• Made of gold
• Beautiful
• Minimal surface marks

Cons

• None found

1933 Indian Head Gold Eagle

Features

Key features include the year 1933 and 13 stars on its face with no mint marks. The gold content is about 90% and it weighs around 0.5 oz. The coin is valued at $700,000. The year 1933 was the last year that these coins were made, and most of them were confiscated and melted doing the Roosevelt era following the ban on gold ownership.

Pros

• Rare
• Valuable
• Beautiful
• Minimal surface marks

Cons

• None found

1870-S Three Dollar Gold Piece

Features

Key features of this coin include a design that features a bust of liberty that faces to the viewer’s left, with the year 1870, 3 dollars, and the United States of America engraved on it. The coin was designed by James B. Longacre and made between 1854 and 1889. The coin produced in 1870 is the rarest, as only one is known to still exist, and it’s believed to have been placed in the cornerstone of the US Mint building in San Francisco. It was minted using a special cast that featured a hand-carved letter “S” and it’s valued at $4 million by the American Numismatic Association Museum.

Pros

• Rare
• Valuable
• Beautiful
• Minimal surface marks

Cons

• None found

1861 Liberty Head $20 Gold Double Eagle

Features

Key features include a design that features a bust of liberty that faces to the viewer’s right, with the year 1861 at the bottom and the word “United States of America” and “Twenty D” engraved on the faces. It is valued at $1,645,000 and its grade is PCGS MS-61. The coins were designed by James Barton Longacre and produced in 1850, but they were redesigned in late 1860 by Anthony C. Paquet by producing reverse taller and narrower letters. San Francisco Mint struck 19,250 coins for circulation with the S mintmark. The Philadelphia mint only produced 3 coins and only 2 of them survive.

Pros

• Rare
• Valuable
• Beautiful
• Minimal surface marks

Cons

• None found

1849 Coronet Double Eagle

Features

Key features of this product include a bust of liberty that faces to the viewer’s right, 13 stars on top with the year 1849 at the bottom and the word “United States of America” and “Twenty D” engraved on the faces. Until 1849, the highest coin denomination was $10, but the gold rush led to an abundant influx of gold into the US Mint hence producing higher con denomination.

Two coins were made in 1849 in proof condition; one is stored at the Smithsonian Institution in DC and the whereabouts of the other is unknown. James B. Longacre designed it and it’s valued at $4 million

Pros

• Rare
• Valuable
• Beautiful
• Minimal surface marks

Cons

• None found

1920-S Indian $10 Gold Eagle

Features

Key features include a bust of liberty that faces to the viewer’s left, 13 stars on top with the year 1920 at the bottom and the word “United States of America” and “Ten Dollars” engraved on the faces. The San Francisco mint produced 126,500 coins. Its eye appeal is great, and the surface has no imperfections. It is valued at $1,725,000 and was sold at an auction to Robert Korver.

Pros

• Rare
• Valuable
• Beautiful
• Minimal surface marks

Cons

• None found

1796 Draped Bust $2.50 Gold Quarter Eagle – No Stars

Features

Key features a bust of liberty that faces to the viewer’s right, with the year 1796 at the bottom. It has the word “United States of America” and an eagle holding a scroll that reads “E Pluribus Unum” engraved on the faces. It is graded MS-65 and is the finest preserved specimen of the few coins left. It is valued at $1,725,00. Besides, it is eye appealing with minimal surface marks.

Pros

• Rare
• Valuable
• Beautiful
• Minimal surface marks

Cons

• None found

1880 Proof $4 Stella Coiled Hair

Features

Key features a bust of liberty that faces to the viewer’s left, stars, with the year 1880 at the bottom and the word “United States of America” and ‘Four Dol” engraved on the faces. It is valued at $2,570,000 and is one of the rarest US gold coins. It is also eye appealing and has minimal surface marks. It is owned by Bonham’s, Tacasyl Collection of U.S. Proof Gold

Pros

• Very rare
• Precious
• Beautiful
• Minimal surface marks

Cons

• None found

1907 Satin Proof Indian $10 Gold Eagle

Features

Key features include a bust of liberty that faces to the viewer’s left, stars, and the year 1907 at the bottom. It also has the word “United States of America” and “Ten Dollars” engraved on the faces. Experts believe a dozen of these coins remain today and has a grade of PR-67 and is valued at $2,185,000. It is owned by FUN Signature & Platinum Night US Coin Auction.

Pros

• Very rare
• Valuable
• Beautiful
• Minimal surface marks

Cons

• None found

Comparison Table

coin	image	value	Where To Buy?
1804 Ten Dollar Gold Piece		$8.5 million
1933 Saint-Gaude​​​​ns Double Eagle		$7.59 million
1933 Indi​​​​an Head Gold Eagle		$700,000
1870-S Three Dollar Gold Piece		$4 million
1861 Liberty Head $20 Gold Double Eagle		$1,645,000
1849 Coronet Double Eagle		$4 million
1920-S Indian $10 Gold Eagle		$1,725,000
1796 Draped Bust $2.50 Gold Quarter Eagle – No Stars		$1,725,00
1880 Proof $4 Stella Coiled Hair		$2,570,000
1907 Satin Proof Indian $10 Gold Eagle		$2,185,000

The Verdict

The best US Gold coin among the 10 we reviewed is the 1804 Ten Dollar Gold Piece as only ten coins are known to have been made and only three are known to exist today. Besides, they are the most valuable among the 10 US gold coins we reviewed at $8.5 million in 2005, which implies that its value has appreciated considerably and could easily fetch $10 million today when auctioned. Besides, it is a rare, valuable, and eye-catching piece, making it the best of the 10 US gold coins.

We hope that this content provides you with a list of the best US coins known to exist today to decide on which you can probably purchase for its aesthetic appeal, gifting or numismatic value.