This discussion of the top coins worth collecting will focus on modern U.S. coins. A separate list will be prepared about the top classic coins worth collecting later this month as well!
Coins that are worth collecting more than others should have certain qualities. They should be coins every collector wants; coins that have been in demand in recent years and that numismatists think should remain in demand as the coin market ebbs and flows over time. But some may be sleepers too.
In addition, they should be either the lowest mintage piece for that type of coin (like the 1995-W American Silver Eagle) or they should be unique and special issues (such as the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle gold coin), the first of their type or perhaps the only coins of that type (an example being the 2000-W Library of Congress $10 bi-metallic coin.
The order in which the coins appear in this list does not reflect their importance or value.
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2020-W V75 $50 American Gold Eagle proof coin:
This is the lowest mintage coin in the entire American Gold Eagle series issued since 1986, including all versions that exist of this coin in terms of finishes. Only 1,945 coins (issued to match the year of the Allied victory in World War II) were struck.
Issued to mark the legendary victory of the Allied Powers against the Axis in 1945, these coins have a small privy mark on them that is micro-engraved with “V75”. When the coin went on sale in November 2020, it sold out very quickly and immediately saw its value skyrocket.
2006-W American Gold Eagle Reverse Proof coin:
This is the first and only example of an American Gold Eagle that is struck in a reverse proof finish in which the design devices are mirrored, and the background is frosted unlike proof coins that reverse those finishes.
It was issued in 2006 as part of a 3-coin series produced to mark the 20th anniversary of this iconic gold coin and limited to 10,000 sets that sold out quickly. The other two coins in the 20th anniversary set were the 2006-W proof and 2006-W burnished uncirculated coins. The set has maintained a strong secondary market value since it was released due to the rise in spot gold and the unique reverse proof coin in the set.
The record price for a PF70 example of the reverse proof gold coin is $9,200 from a 2011 sale.
2016-W Betty Ford $10 uncirculated gold coin:
Because the coins ended up being so expensive to collect the whole series, sales for the $10 First Spouse gold coins drifted lower as the series progressed except for certain issues that were more popular like the Jackie Kennedy coin.
Trying to figure out which of these coins would end up as the lowest mintage coin for the series was hard to predict towards the end of the series, but it ended up being the 2016-W Betty Ford uncirculated coin with a mintage of just 1,824 coins. That also makes it the lowest mintage modern U.S. gold coin.
In the current market, this coin does sell for a premium, especially MS70 examples, but those prices do not reflect the rarity of the coin, making it a sleeper.
2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle:
When Edmund Moy was Director of the U.S. Mint, his most well-known project was this coin, which is a modern reprise of the famous gold pattern coin struck in 1907, the Ultra High Relief Double Eagle designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The original coin was very problematic to strike because of the relief, but a small number were made the way the artist intended the design to be seen.
The 2009 version was also a challenge to make and required multiple strikes and the use of advanced technology. It was huge hit with collectors, selling 114,427 coins at $1,300 each. In addition to their amazing relief, which is why the coin’s have a smaller diameter than other 1-ounce gold coins, the pieces also have a satin finish.
Although considered a mint state coin, the 2009 UHR sometimes appears with a prooflike appearance. In 2011 PCGS began designating some coins as Prooflike (PL).
2008-W American Buffalo Gold $25 and $10 uncirculated coins:
Fractional versions of the American Buffalo Gold coin were only issued in 2008 in the same sizes as Gold Eagles. Sales of these coins were harmed by rising gold prices in 2008 and competition from other mint products that year. The Mint decided to cancel the fraction Buffaloes after this.
The $10, quarter-ounce Buffalo coin from 2008 in mint state (which is also about the same size as a Buffalo nickel) has the second lowest mintage of the fractional coins from 2008 at 9,949 compared to 9,286 for the $25, half-ounce coin. Both coinsremainvery popular with collectors, and they have maintained a strong premium over the past 15 years.
2008-W American Platinum Eagle $50 burnished uncirculated coin:
In 2006–2008, the U.S. Mint issued burnished uncirculated versions of the American Platinum Eagle. Due to a sharp rise in spot platinum in 2008 and the fact that at this time the Mint was issuing so many different precious metal coins aimed at collectors, these coins were often overlooked at the time. Sales ended up being unusually low for the $50 half-ounce version in 2008 at 2,253 coins.
For many years, this coin remained the lowest mintage modern U.S. coin, but it has since been overtaken by several of the gold First Spouse coins and the 2020-W V75 Gold Eagle proof coin. It is still the lowest mintage Platinum Eagle.
2000-W Library of Congress $10 coin:
This coin was issued (along with a silver dollar with its own design) to mark the 200th anniversary of the Library of Congress, the nation’s oldest cultural institution. The $10 bi-metallic coin combines about a quarter ounce each of gold and platinum and is the only U.S. coin ever issued that is made of those metals. The uncirculated version of this coin had a lower mintage than the proof version and is today more valuable, especially in MS70.
1995-W American Silver Eagle proof coin:
This coin was only available to those who purchased the 10th anniversary American Eagle set issued in 1995 that also included four proof Gold Eagles. Many collectors balked at having to purchase the gold set for $999 to get the free proof Silver Eagle, but those that did have been handsomely rewarded.
In addition to the fact that gold prices have moved a lot higher over the years than they were in 1995, the proof 1995-W coin, which was the first proof Silver Eagle struck at the West Point Mint, ended up having an incredibly low mintage of 30,125 coins.
The coin’s value went up slowly in the beginning, but by 2013 a PF70 example sold for over $86,000 — a record for this coin. Since then, as more of these coins have been graded and received 70s, action prices have come down and stabilized in recent years at the $15–20,000 level, while raw coins and examples graded PF69 are worth at least $3,000.
In 2019, the U.S. Mint released the 2019-S Enhanced Reverse Proof coin with a maximum mintage of 30,000 and final sales that totaled 29,910, which is slightly lower than the 1995-W. However, because it does not have the long track record of this coin, the 2019 piece continues to sell for about $1,000 raw or graded PF69 and $2,000 or more in PF70.
2006-W American Silver Eagle Reverse Proof coin:
This is the very first reverse proof coin the U.S. Mint ever issued. It was part of the 20th anniversary American Silver Eagle set issued in 2006 that also included a 2006-W proof and burnished uncirculated coin.
It sold out of its maximum mintage of 250,000 sets within two weeks and immediately saw its premium rise substantially. Although it has come down from its peak level, the sets still command a premium. Graded examples in 70 are also popular.
2008-W with Reverse of 2007 American Silver Eagle burnished uncirculated coin
In March 2008, the Mint released the 2008-W burnished uncirculated Silver Eagle. The following month a collector in Georgia discovered one of the coins with a reverse design that was like that of the 2007-W coins.
The change was only in the style and size of the lettering fonts on the reverse, and the difference was most clear in the “U” in “United States”. The Mint had decided to make this change sometime in 2007, and while transitioning from one reverse design to the new one, some of the 2008 coins were struck using reverse dies from the 2007 coin.
The news led to someone filing a Freedom of Information Act request and finding out that the Mint believes 45,000 of the 2008-W with reverse of 2007 coin were produced.
In addition to being the third lowest mintage coin of the entire Silver Eagle series, this is the only major die variety too. It is a popular coin that has maintained a premium since it hit the market in 2008. But it is probably undervalued at its current level of about $450 raw and graded 69 and $1,000-$1,500 in 70. The auction record is $1,995 for an NGC MS70 with John Mercanti signature label that sold in May 2023.
