1. Best Coins To Collect For Investment
2. Best Coins To Collect Australia

Morgan Silver Dollars are one of the most widely minted, circulated, and collected silver coins on the market. These coins are 90% silver and 10% copper, and the United States minted hundreds of millions of them between 1878 and 1921. A left-facing Lady Liberty lies on the obverse of this coin, surrounded by 13 stars.

Everybody has their opinion on what the best coins to collect are. Although it's a subjective question, we've compiled the definitive list for coin collectors to reference. You won't have to search through dozens of different answers after consulting this guide!

Below we'll look at 15 of the best United States coins worth collecting.

It’s challenging to slim a binder of hundreds of potential candidates down to just 15. This list consists of a diverse array of U.S. coins, including valuable rarities, common circulation coins, and a few that many collectors seem to forget. Any or all these coins would make terrific additions to a collection of United States coins. They are presented here in the order of denomination, beginning with the one-cent coin.

1. The best coins to invest in are not all American coins. The Chinese Panda Gold Coin is a great investment choice because, as one of the earliest civilizations to ever begin using coins, they have a history of producing coins that are not only beautiful but also maintain their value.
2. The modern coin era began in America in 1965, the first year the U.S. Mint produced copper-nickel 'clad' coins as replacement for silver coins, ending an unbroken, 173 year tradition. For many collectors, this was the death-knell for collecting, as the coins would no longer have any intrinsic value and mintages would be huge.

1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent

1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat cent. Image: USA CoinBook

Is there any coin more famous than the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent? Sure, numismatists call the 1804 Draped Bust dollar the “King of American Coins,” but “the 1909 Lincoln penny” holds that title in the public imagination. A 1909-S VDB penny is the necessary key date for any Lincoln cent collection.

There were only 484,000 coins minted, with perhaps 50,000 survivors today across the grade spectrum. While both of those figures may seem rather high for a “rare” coin, millions of people want a 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent. So, demand far outstrips supply, and this has been the case for generations. Today, a 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent has a value of at least $600, even in well-worn grades.

The 1908-S VDB Lincoln cent has a storied past. Production ended only weeks after its release, due public outcry over the prominent letters “VDB” on the reverse. These letters represent the initials of designer Victor David Brenner. The furor centered on the size and visibility of his initials. People accused Brenner of self-promotion on America's coins. Previous artists had included their initials on U.S. coin designs, but most were hidden or less conspicuous.

1943 Lincoln Steel Cent

1943 steel Lincoln Wheat cent. Image: USA CoinBook

One of the most unusual United States coins is the 1943 steel Lincoln cent. Struck for one year only, the steel penny was made to help save copper for World War II munitions. So, all 1943 steel cents serve as precious relics of this most trying period in American history.

The oddness of the 1943 steel cents often lead many new collectors and non-numismatists to believe that they must be rare and valuable. The truth is, more than 1 billion steel Lincoln pennies were made in 1943 between the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints. They are still plenty common in coin shops and coin shows. It’s also still possible to find these silver-colored pennies, worth about 20 cents to $1 in worn condition, in circulation.

1864 Two Cents

1864 two cent piece (Large Motto variety). Image: USA CoinBook

Did you know America once had a coin with a face value of two cents? Not only that, the 1864 Two Cents was the first United States coin to carry the now-famous national motto “IN GOD WE TRUST.” Many two cent pieces are scarce and valuable, but the historic 1864 issue were hoarded when they came out.

They can be bought today for less than $50 in moderately circulated condition. Not only do they make a terrific acquisition for any United States coin collection, but they’re just as wonderful a conversation piece, too.

1883 “No Cents” Liberty Nickel

Talk about conversation pieces... When the 1883 Liberty Head nickel was first released, some unscrupulous individuals began passing them off as $5 gold pieces!

The original design used a Roman numeral 'V' for the five cent denomination, without the word 'cents.' It wasn't long before crooks realized that the nickel was about the same size as a $5 quarter eagle gold coin. Without the word 'cents,' they could gold plate the nickel and pass it off as a $5 coin. Some attempts were more successful than others.

One commonly told tale involves the story of Josh Tatum, a deaf mute, who used gold-plated V nickels to buy items that cost five cents. In doing so, he often received $4.95 in change. The law soon caught up with him, but Tatum couldn’t be convicted of any crime. Nobody could testify that he ever once claimed the coins to be $5 gold pieces, because he couldn't talk. Tatum may have ridden off to the sunset, but his legacy lives on with the phrase “I was just Joshing you.”

Today, one can buy an 1883 No Cents Liberty nickel in well-worn condition for less than $10.

1942-P Jefferson Silver Nickel

1942-P wartime Jefferson nickel. Image: USA CoinBook

Much like the 1943 Lincoln steel cent, the Jefferson nickel also underwent a wartime change in composition. To save nickel metal for the war effort, the nickel was changed from the standard 75% copper, 25% nickel composition, to 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese.

This change was instituted late in 1942. Nickels struck earlier in the year were made from the standard composition. This meant that there were 'regular' and silver nickels bearing a 1942 date. How do you tell them apart? The easiest way is by looking for a large “P,” “D,” or “S” mintmark above the dome of Monticello.

These large mintmarks are only seen on the silver-based wartime Jefferson nickels made from 1942 through 1945. In the case of the 1942-P war nickel, is was the first coin to carry the “P” mintmark signifying the Philadelphia Mint. War nickels are generally worth the value of their silver content. They can still occasionally turn up in circulation.

1916-D Mercury Dime

It’s time to turn our eyes to another important rarity, and this one ranks high on most collectors’ lists of all-time great United States coins. The 1916-D Mercury dime was minted during the first year of production for this beloved series designed by Adolph A. Weinman.

It saw a mintage of only 264,000, and has an estimated survival of approximately 10,000 pieces across all grades. This makes the 1916-D Mercury dime even scarcer than the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent. The 1916-D Mercury is the top key date for the series and runs about $1,000 and up in worn grades.

1796 Draped Bust Quarter

1796 Draped Bust quarter (Small Eagle variety). Image: USA CoinBook

The quarter-dollar is the workhorse of the American economy. This denomination has been in production since 1796. The first quarters ever produced for circulation were the 1796 Draped Bust quarter.

Carrying the iconic Draped Bust design by Robert Scot, the first quarters were minted in small quantities of just 6,146 pieces. All early quarters are rarities, but the 1796 is especially sought-after as the first-year coin of the denomination. Any example of this important 18th-century United States coin qualifies as a national treasure. Even a Good-4 specimen will run about $10,000.

1876 Liberty Seated Half Dollar

1876 Seated Liberty half dollar. Image: USA CoinBook

The Liberty Seated design was the “face” of American coinage for most of the 19th century. Also known as 'Seated Liberty,' it appeared on the obverses of most United States silver coins from the late 1830s through early 1890s. While several denominations feature this Christian Gobrecht design, many of these coins are scarce and quite valuable. This leaves anyone wanting to collect coins with limited options for buying an example of this important type.

Still, numerous affordable options exist. One of them is the 1876 Liberty Seated half dollar. A moderately circulated example of the 1876 Liberty Seated half dollar can be bought for less than $100. Prices fall to less than $50 in grades of Good-4 or Very Good-8!

1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar

1938-D Walking Liberty half dollar. Image: USA CoinBook

Many consider the Walking Liberty half dollar the most beautiful silver coin ever produced by the United States. Like the acclaimed Mercury dime, it was designed by Adolph A. Weinman. The Walking Liberty half dollar ran from 1916 through 1947.

Several scarce dates were struck throughout this long-running series. Many collectors will find the key dates to be financially out of reach. There is one rare issue in this series that can be obtained for less than $100 in circulated grades. The 1938-D Walking Liberty half dollar, which saw a mintage of 491,600, is a sought-after key date. Those wishing to see the 1938-D Walking Liberty design in all its glory can purchase an uncirculated example for about $500.

1964 Kennedy Half Dollar

One of the most widely collected silver coins of all time is the 1964 Kennedy half dollar. This coin was introduced mere months after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, Texas.

The 1964 Kennedy half dollar was the last circulating half dollar to contain a 90% silver composition. It was a major hit with the public and widely saved as a souvenir of the fallen commander-in-chief. More than 400 million examples were struck between the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. Many survive today – often tucked away in old dresser drawers and cigar boxes.

Circulated examples are only worth their silver melt value, making this significant silver coin affordable on nearly any coin collecting budget.

1921 Morgan Dollar

1921 Morgan silver dollar. Image: USA CoinBook

Just about everybody seems to know about silver dollars. The most popular silver dollar series of all is the Morgan, or “Liberty Head” type, designed by George T. Morgan and in production from 1878 through 1921.

Many collectors spend an entire lifetime building their Morgan silver dollar collection. In part, this is because so many dates are hard to find and super expensive. But every collection of United States coinage needs at least one example of this classic American coin. One of the most affordable dates is the 1921 Morgan dollar, representing the last year of the series.

More than 86 million Morgan dollars were struck in 1921 before production shifted to the Peace silver dollar. A nice uncirculated specimen with gorgeous cartwheel luster can be had for less than $50.

1979 Susan B. Anthony Dollar

1979-P Susan B. Anthony dollar (Narrow Rim variety). Image: USA CoinBook

Few American coins were as short-lived as the Susan B. Anthony dollar, which was struck only from 1979 to 1981. It was produced once more in 1999 to fill a dollar coin shortfall before the Sacagawea dollar hit the streets in 2000. The “Susie B.” was widely confused with the Washington quarter, making it unpopular with the public. The Susan B. Anthony dollar also represents several firsts:

• it was the first circulating United States coin to carry the likeness of an actual woman (instead of a representative figure, such as Lady Liberty),
• it was the nation’s first small-size dollar coin, and
• it was the first U.S. coin to carry an 11-sided rim.

The 1979 Susan B. Anthony dollar was the first year of these much-maligned, but historically important coins. Gem Uncirculated examples can be purchased for less than $5.

1907 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle - Arabic Numerals

1907 Saint-Gaudens gold double eagle (low relief, Arabic numerals variety). Image: USA CoinBook

Prior to 1933, the United States minted legal-tender gold coins for circulation, in denominations ranging from $1 to $20. There were many designs, but one reigns above all others. Widely held to be the most beautiful coin ever produced, the gold Saint-Gaudens double eagle was minted from 1907 through 1933.

Named for its designer, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, this $20 gold coin remains one of the most beloved American coins. First-year issues from 1907 are among the most desirable. A handful of different issues were struck in 1907. Some bear the date in Roman numerals and, with their high-relief strike, are extremely rare and valuable.

However, the United States Mint also turned out more than 360,000 low-relief examples with Arabic numerals (declaring “1907”). Low-relief 1907 Saint-Gaudens double eagles sell for a little above spot value in circulated grades. Uncirculated specimens can be bought for nominal amounts over that. This makes them one of the most popular pre-1933 gold coins.

1892 Columbian Commemorative Half Dollar

1892–1893 Columbian half dollar commemorative. Image: Early Commemorative Coins

The United States launched its first commemorative coin program in 1892, coinciding with the 400th anniversary of explorer Christopher Columbus’s landing in the Americas.

The 1892 Columbian half dollar was authorized by the United States Congress to help pay for the 1892 Columbian Exposition celebrating the occasion. This event is better known as the 1892 Chicago World's Fair. Expo management sold the silver commemorative halves for $1.As the first official U.S. commemorative coin, the 1892 Columbus half dollar is a landmark coin. Yet, along with its incredible numismatic history, it is also an affordable coin. Circulated specimens sell for small premiums above melt value, while nice uncirculated pieces start at around $50.

1986 American Silver Eagle

A new era in United States coinage took flight in 1986 with the release of the nation’s first official bullion coins. The United States Mint kicked off its bullion program with five different American Eagle coins of silver and gold. A one oz .999 fine American Silver Eagle was issued alongside four 22K Gold American Eagle coins in various sizes.

The obverse of the American Silver Eagle resurrects the 1916 Adolph Weinman Walking Liberty design. The reverse features a modern heraldic eagle design by John Mercanti. While 1986 American Silver Eagles are common, they are also in high demand as the important first-year coin in the series.

As a result, they normally sell at a significant numismatic value over spot. However, paying a little extra for this specific silver coin is worth it. The 1986 American Silver Eagle changed the face of silver bullion investment. The “ASE” series is now easily the world’s most widely recognized and sought-after modern bullion coin.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Collecting Coins

Which Coins Will Increase In Value?

It's impossible to predict precisely which coins will increase in value. Frankly, some coins will not.

The best advice in this regard is to pursue coins that are in exceptionally good condition, such as mint state (also called 'uncirculated'). The highest-grade coins usually offer the greatest potential for price appreciation.

What Coins Are Collectors Looking For?

There are a handful of factors that coin collectors consider:

• Is the coin relatively scarce, such as a low mintage or a rarity?
• Is the coin made from precious metals like gold or silver?
• Is the coin very well-preserved (i.e. in uncirculated condition, also known as mint state)?
• Does the coin exhibit some kind of error, such as a doubled die or off-center strike?

Individual taste should also be taken into account. Perhaps you collect coins that have a design or theme that you enjoy. Maybe you search for coins from a specific year that is meaningful to you, such as the birth year of a family member. You can never go wrong in coin collecting if you look for coins that appeal to you on a personal level.

Is Coin Collecting Profitable?

Yes! Many collectors simply love the hobby, and aren't in it to make big profits. Yet collecting coins and holding them for several years is often a viable investment strategy.

This may be due to the melt value of the coins rising over time (if they are made of silver or gold). Coins can also appreciate in value due to their popularity or because of a limited mintage (scarcity).

As a general rule of thumb, it's advisable to collect the highest-grade coins (i.e. coins in exceptionally good condition) that you can afford. These are the coins that tend to have the highest profit potential.

How Can You Tell If A Coin Is Rare?

You will usually have to consult a numismatist or numismatic expert to ascertain the rarity of a coin. The numismatist will be able to identify what type of coin you have, and determine whether it is a rare coin or commonplace.

How Do I Know If My Coin Is Worth Money?

You will have to correctly identify what coin you have to figure out its value. Once you know what the coin is, there are many price guides you can reference to get a general idea of how much the coin is worth. Here are some of the most reliable price guides used by collectors:

• A Guide Book of United States Coins (known as The Official 'Red Book'), updated each year by Whitman Publishing

The information on this page does not constitute an offer to buy or sell the coin(s) referred to. Prices mentioned are for illustrative purposes only.

Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez is a journalist, editor, and blogger who has won multiple awards from the Numismatic Literary Guild. He has also authored numerous books, including works profiling the history of the United States Mint and United States coinage.

More gold and silver buying guides:

For many, the 2012 Olympic 50p collecting sensationkick started their interest in coins. In fact, millions rose to the challenge of collecting all 29 designs, and we now know that as many as 75% of the Olympic 50p coins have been removed from circulationby collectors.

But that was only the start…

Since then, the nation has been gripped by the latest Royal Mint releases, with collectors eagerly hunting down the most sought-after coins as they are released, as well as searching for the scarcest coins in circulation and the rarest of the rare error coins that you could be lucky enough to find in your change.

As the public’s interest in coin collecting continues to grow, we’ve decided to take a look at the top 10 coins collectors are after right now and explain to you exactly why these coins are so sought-after.

1) 2017 Sir Isaac Newton 50p

Voted as both Change Checker’s favourite coin design of 2017 and Change Checker’s top historically significant coin, the 2017 Sir Isaac Newton 50p has the second lowest mintage figure for any commemorative 50p coin in circulation, with just 1,801,500 coins being struck.

Designed by Aaron West, this 50p coin was issued in 2017 to commemorate the achievements of Sir Isaac Newton and remembers the legacy he has left, 350 years after his birth in 1667. Sir Isaac Newton is widely recognised as one of themost influential scientists of all time and a key figure in the scientific revolution. He changed our understanding of mathematics and physics, redefined the way we see the world and shaped the security of our currency in his role as Master of the Mint.

In January 2018, The Royal Mint announced the 2018 Sir Isaac Newton 50p coin but the ONLY place to get hold of one was at The Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant, Wales! Interestingly, these 2018 dated coins will not be released into circulation.

2) A-Z of Great Britain 10p coins

We were incredibly excited to reveal the 26 new A to Z of Great Britain 10p coins to the public following The Royal Mint’s surprise release in March 2018. Since then they have created quite a stir in the world of coin collecting…

An initial early release of 2.6 million coins set collectors to frantically hunting down these coins in their change. In October 2018, another 2.6 million were released, and in 2019 their have been a further 2.1 million released, bringing the total number of coins in circulation to 7.3 million.

However, split evenly over the 26 designs, this still only brings the mintage figure for each coin to around 280,000 – only slightly more than the UK’s scarcest 50p coin in circulation! To find out which 10p is most sought-after, we’ve added the A-Z 10ps to our Scarcity Index charts to reveal the scarcest 10p design to look out for.

3) 2020 Team GB 50p

In 2020, The Royal Mint issued its Commemorative Coin Set, including a 50p celebrating Team GB’s participation in the Tokyo Olympics.

As the news broke that the 2020 Olympic Games would be postponed until 2021 due to the worldwide pandemic, collectors were soon asking the question, “What will happen to the 2020 Team GB 50p?”

As the 2020 Team GB 50p was never individually released, it was confirmed this too would be postponed, in line with the Olympic Games. This means that there will be both a 2020 and a 2021 dated Team GB 50p by the time it is individually released next year.

Demand for the 2020 version of the Team GB 50p is already high, as it is only available as part of the Annual Set, meaning far fewer will be minted than if it were individually released.

These coins have already been selling on the secondary market for well over their face value and this demand is sure to increase when we see the release of the individual 2021 dated Team GB 50p.

4) Kew Gardens 50p

The Kew Gardens 50p hit the headlines in February 2014 when it was revealed as the most scarce 50p in circulation, with a mintage figure of just 210,000. At the peak of the hype surrounding its value, some coins were exchanging hands for hundreds of pounds!

This incredibly sought-after 50p remains top of our 50p Scarcity Index and is still selling for around £102 on ebay, as you can see from our Ebay Tracker.

In 2019 the Kew Gardens was re-issued in Brilliant Uncirculated quality as part of the 50th Anniversary of the 50p Culture Set.

The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew are a UNESCO World Heritage Site which boast 4.5 acres of gardens under glass as well as a soaring treetop walkway. One of the garden buildings is a Chinese Pagoda built in 1761 which features on the design of this scarce commemorative 50p.

5) Undated 20p

In 2008, the undated 20p became the first coin in over 300 years to enter circulation without a date, and when the story broke in the press, it caused a frenzy not just in the collecting world but amongst the general public who realised they stood just as good a chance as anyone of pulling one out of their change.

Matthew Dent’s new UK coin designs featured a different part of the Royal Arms Shield on each denomination, and the new 20p devoted the entire reverse face to the design, meaning a new die with the date on the obverse (Queen’s head) side was created. However, when the new Royal Shield 20p coins were struck for circulation, the old die was accidentally used, meaning a batch was issued with no date on either side of the coin.

Coins with mismatched sides like these are known in the collecting world as ‘mules’ and are highly coveted, but The Royal Mint confirmed in a statement that no more than 250,000 coins made it into circulation.

6) 2020 Peter Rabbit 50p

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Issued during a world pandemic, this Peter Rabbit 50p is arguably the forgotten coin of 2020.

It was confirmed to be the very last UK Peter Rabbit 50p in the series of coins celebrating 150 years since the birth of renowned children’s author, Beatrix Potter, which sadly brought his UK 50p tale to an end.

Unfortunately, masked by the events of a worldwidepandemic, the significance of this coin’s issue was missed.

Its reverse features a design of an original Beatrix Potter illustration of Peter Rabbit, scrambling under Mr. McGregor’s fence, an iconic image from Potter’s tale.

The2020 Peter Rabbit 50pdid not enter general circulation and was issued only in collector quality.

7) Benjamin Britten 50p

This 50p design was issued to commemorate the centenary of the birth of British Composer, Benjamin Britten in 1913, and features celebratory words from Tennyson set against a double stave – referencing the piano on which Britten was a virtuoso. Whilst this 50p was initially somewhat overlooked when it was first released, it hit the headlines back in 2016 when press articles revealed the coin being listed on ebay for over £800.

Sadly, ebay is not always a fair indicator of value, as anyone can list a coin at whatever price they choose. So when one collector found this slightly unusual coin in their change and listed it on eBay for an outrageous price, others soon followed, leading people to believe that the coin indeed had a high value. In fact, the Benjamin Britten 50p is actually quite common and you’ll likely come across the coin in your change without having to pay £800!

8) Commonwealth Games NI £2

In 2002, four £2 coins were issued to mark the Commonwealth Games, held in Manchester which, prior to the Olympic Games in London in 2012, was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK.

There are four different designs of the £2 commemorative coin and all are similar except that the central cameo features a different flag for the four constituent countries of the UK. They are some of the scarcest £2 coins now in circulation, with even the largest mintage (Scotland) set at just 771,750. Trying to tell the difference between the coins is tricky, however the one you’ll really want to be looking out for is the Northern Ireland £2. Just 485,000 coins were ever struck, making it officially the UK’s rarest £2 coin.

9) 1994 Mayflower Trial £2

The bi-metallic style of the £2 coin was first issued for general circulation in 1997. However, the very first version was actually struck in 1994 as a trial piece and was never legal tender.

This trial £2 coin was only ever issued in a presentation pack and was billed as “The United Kingdom’s first bi-colour coin”. There were only 4,500 packs ever issued which makes the 1994 Trial £2 coinan incredibly rare example of a bi-metallic coin.

The £2 coin with the lowest mintage currently in circulation is the 2002 Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland design, with a mintage of 485,500. This means the 1994 trial piece is more than 100 times rarer than the rarest £2 coin in circulation!

10) 2018 Peter Rabbit 50p

The 2018 Peter Rabbit 50p overtook the 2016 Jemima Puddle-Duck 50p as the joint second rarest 50p when the 2018 mintage figures were released (excluding the Olympic 50ps). The 2018 Peter Rabbit 50p and 2018 Flopsy Bunny 50p have a mintage of just 1,400,000!

In fact, the 2018 Peter Rabbit, Flopsy Bunny and Mrs Tittlemouse have lower mintages than any of the previous Beatrix Potter coins issued in 2016 and 2017.

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The 2018 Peter Rabbit 50p coin was issued to carry on the celebrations of one of Beatrix Potter’s famous animals and the first of Beatrix Potter’s 23 children’s tales ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit’.

As a Change Checker, there’s nothing more satisfying than finding a rare coin to complete your collection, and I’m sure you’ll agree that some of the coins mentioned above would make for an extra special find if you came across them in your change.

But have you been lucky enough to find any of these top 10 coins? Let us know in the comments below.

Which coins are missing from your collection?

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