$18.9 Million Shocker: 10 Highest Coin Auction Sales in History

• The legendary 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle shattered barriers at $18.9 million, blending Depression-era drama with unparalleled rarity.
• Iconic early U.S. treasures like the Brasher Doubloon dominate, showcasing how colonial craftsmanship fuels multimillion-dollar bids.
• Global gems from ancient dinars to Qing dynasty taels prove valuable collectibles know no borders in today’s rare coin market frenzy.

In the opulent halls of Sotheby’s New York amid the buzz of June 2021, collectors and investors leaned forward as a single gold coin, forbidden by presidential decree and shrouded in decades of intrigue, crossed the auction block.

The 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, with its majestic flying eagle and striding Liberty, fetched a staggering $18.9 million, not just for its gleaming composition but for the tale of survival against a government meltdown order—what other outlawed artifacts might still whisper secrets from hidden collections?

This pinnacle sale headlines a pantheon of numismatic legends where history, scarcity, and artistry collide to create fortunes.

As gold surges past $3,000 an ounce in 2025 amid economic turbulence and digital asset volatility, rare coin auctions are exploding, drawing high-net-worth hunters seeking tangible hedges.

Auction houses like Heritage and Stack’s Bowers report record volumes, with total sales eclipsing $500 million annually, fueled by millennial investors and online platforms democratizing access.

But it’s the stories behind these valuable collectibles that captivate: from clandestine mintings to royal provenances, each bid uncovers layers of the past.

Dive into this countdown of the 10 highest coin auction sales ever, ranked by price, and ponder—what overlooked heirloom in your family vault could next ignite a bidding war?

10. 1885 Trade Dollar – $3,960,000

The 1885 Trade Dollar, a silver coin minted to facilitate U.S. trade in Asia against dominant Mexican pesos, saw abrupt production halt, resulting in extreme rarity with just proof strikes surviving.

Depicting a seated Liberty with trade symbols and an eagle grasping arrows on the reverse, this PR-66 specimen boasts pedigree from the Atwater and Eliasberg collections.

Its speciality captures America’s expansionist trade policies in the late 19th century.

Auctioned by Heritage in 2019 for $3,960,000, it underscores the series’ appeal amid expanding Asian collector interest.

Speculation suggests many exported examples remain hidden abroad, awaiting rediscovery and return, which could dramatically impact market dynamics.

09. 1913 Liberty Head Nickel – $4,560,000

The 1913 Liberty Head Nickel is infamous for its illicit minting at the U.S. Mint after the design’s retirement, with only five examples known.

Featuring Liberty in a coronet and a “V” encircled by a wreath, graded PR-66, its speciality is its outlaw origins and pop culture fame in media.

Stack’s Bowers, partnered with Sotheby’s, auctioned it in 2018 for $4,560,000, solidifying its legendary status.

Mysteries persist about insider creations, with speculation on more clandestine strikes

08. 723 Umayyad Gold Dinar – $6,029,400

The 723 Umayyad Gold Dinar is a relic of the Umayyad Caliphate’s peak, struck in 723 from gold sourced from the caliph’s personal mine in what is now Saudi Arabia.

Bearing elegant Arabic script emphasizing divine unity and authority, it signifies the transition to distinctly Islamic coinage, divorcing from earlier Byzantine influences.

With merely a dozen known examples enduring conquests, migrations, and time, its speciality captivates historians and collectors alike.

Sold at Morten & Eden in April 2011 for $6,029,400, it evokes the vast empire’s reach across continents.

Modern digs in the Arabian Peninsula spark hopes of finding matching pieces, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of early Islamic economics and artistry.

07. 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar (MS-66+) – $6,600,000

The 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar marks the inception of U.S. silver dollar production at the Philadelphia Mint, depicting Lady Liberty with flowing hair surrounded by 15 stars for the original states, and a vigilant eagle encircled by a laurel wreath on the reverse.

Its speciality is its status as potentially among the first struck, with Lord St. Oswald provenance from a British aristocrat who acquired it directly from the Mint, graded MS-66+ for near-pristine condition.

Heritage Auctions sold it in August 2021 for $6,600,000, fueling debates on archival records revealing earlier prototypes in European estates. This sale cements its foundational role in American coinage history.

06. 1903 Fengtien Tael – $6,900,000

The 1903 Fengtien Tael, a silver coin from the Qing Dynasty’s Fengtien province, embodies China’s imperial push for currency modernization amid encroaching Western powers and internal upheavals.

Featuring intricate coiled dragons and Manchu inscriptions, it stands as a testament to the era’s blend of tradition and reform.

As one of the best-preserved examples, its speciality draws from its rarity and cultural significance, appealing to collectors interested in Asian history.

Auctioned at Beijing Chengxuan in August 2022, it achieved $6,900,000, reflecting the growing influence of Asian markets in numismatics.

Speculation abounds regarding potential discoveries from ancient hoards in China’s forbidden cities, which could introduce even scarcer variants and further elevate values.

05. 1861 Paquet Reverse Liberty Head Double Eagle – $7,200,000

The 1861 Paquet Reverse Liberty Head Double Eagle emerged during the Civil War’s dawn, featuring engraver Anthony Paquet’s experimental taller lettering on the reverse, which was quickly abandoned due to striking issues.

This $20 gold coin depicts seated Liberty with a shield and the modified eagle reverse.

Its speciality is its extreme scarcity, with few surviving the design’s brief trial, graded MS-67 with CAC endorsement for outstanding eye appeal and tied to the Norweb collection.

Heritage Auctions sold it in August 2021 for $7,200,000, reflecting the Mint’s innovations amid national turmoil.

The sale emphasized experimental minting practices and hints at other pattern pieces from that era possibly awaiting discovery in historical archives.

04. 1804 Draped Bust Dollar – $7,680,000

Dubbed the “King of U.S. Coins,” the 1804 Draped Bust Dollar is shrouded in mystery, actually struck in the 1830s as diplomatic gifts for Asian rulers rather than in 1804.

Featuring a draped Liberty profile and a heraldic eagle with edge lettering to deter clipping, this Class I original from the Sultan of Muscat’s set exemplifies Mint craftsmanship.

Its speciality arises from its limited production for foreign dignitaries, with only eight Class I examples known, graded PR-68 for superb quality. Provenance includes Virgil Brand and the Pogue family.

In August 2021, Stack’s Bowers sold it for $7,680,000, sparking speculation about undercover Mint operations and potential undiscovered gifts in royal vaults abroad. This auction affirmed its regal status in numismatics.

03. 1822 Capped Head Half Eagle – $8,400,000

The 1822 Capped Head Half Eagle is a rare $5 gold coin from an era plagued by bullion melting, with only three confirmed survivors out of 17,796 minted.

Designed by John Reich, it portrays a capped Liberty facing left on the obverse and a heraldic eagle clutching arrows and olive branches on the reverse, symbolizing strength and peace.

Its speciality is tied to its near-extinction due to profitable melting during the 1820s, making it a holy grail for collectors.

Graded AU-50, it retains subtle mint luster and links to legendary collections like those of Virgil Brand and Louis Eliasberg.

Stack’s Bowers auctioned this specimen in March 2021 for $8,400,000, highlighting the economic forces that decimated early U.S. gold issues.

The sale revived discussions on archival records possibly revealing more hidden examples from that turbulent period.

02. 1787 Brasher Doubloon (EB on Wing) – $9,360,000

The 1787 Brasher Doubloon represents a fascinating pre-federal era artifact, minted by New York silversmith Ephraim Brasher amid the young nation’s currency chaos.

Inspired by Spanish doubloons, this gold coin features a rising sun over mountains on one side and an eagle shielding stars and stripes on the other, punched with Brasher’s “EB” mark on the wing for authenticity.

Its speciality lies in its rarity as one of seven known examples, embodying revolutionary entrepreneurship before the U.S. Mint’s establishment in 1792.

Graded MS-65 with CAC approval, it boasts exceptional preservation from the Partrick Collection.

In January 2021, Heritage Auctions hosted the sale where it fetched $9,360,000, underscoring its historical significance as a relic of America’s formative years.

The auction drew attention to its role in early American commerce, with whispers of potential undiscovered pieces from Brasher’s workshop fueling collector excitement.

01. 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle – $18,900,000

The 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle stands as a pinnacle of American numismatics, commissioned by President Theodore Roosevelt to revitalize U.S. coinage aesthetics.

Crafted by renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, this $20 gold piece depicts Lady Liberty advancing with a torch and olive branch, symbolizing enlightenment and peace, while the reverse showcases a soaring eagle.

Its extraordinary speciality stems from its prohibition under Executive Order 6102 in 1933, which mandated gold surrender, leading to the melting of nearly all 445,500 minted coins.

Only a few survived, including this specimen from King Farouk of Egypt’s collection, seized by the U.S. Secret Service in 1996 and later legalized for private ownership in 2002 after intense legal battles.

Graded MS-65 with a CAC sticker, it exemplifies pristine condition.

Auctioned at Sotheby’s in June 2021, it shattered records by selling for $18,900,000, tracing provenance through dealer Stuart Weitzman.

This sale highlights its forbidden allure and speculation about another legal example from a 2004 settlement with a Philadelphia jeweler’s heirs.