Coin Values, Price Charts & Rare Coin Research

What is the best coin to start collecting?

Lincoln cents are the ideal starting point for most collectors. They span over 110 years of American history, are affordable in circulated grades, and have a clear collecting goal — the complete date-and-mintmark set. The series introduces key concepts naturally: common wheat cents from the 1940s–1950s teach date-and-mintmark collecting, the 1922 No D teaches die varieties, and the widely available 1943 steel cent teaches how wartime metal shortages changed U.S. coinage. Once you understand Lincoln cents, every other U.S. series makes more sense.

How do I find out what my coins are worth?

Start with our series-specific price guides on this site, then cross-reference against recent eBay sold listings — not asking prices, sold only — for the same date, mint mark, and grade. For coins you believe may be valuable, the PCGS CoinFacts and NGC Coin Explorer databases show certified population data and auction records going back decades. For any coin potentially worth over $100, professional grading from PCGS or NGC adds authentication and a certified value that protects you when buying or selling.

What is the difference between numismatic value and melt value?

Melt value is the intrinsic metal value of a coin — calculated by multiplying the coin's metal content by the current spot price. A 1964 Kennedy half dollar contains 0.3617 troy oz of silver; at today's spot price of roughly $69/oz, its melt value is about $25. Numismatic value is what a collector will pay above melt for historical significance, rarity, and condition. A common-date coin in average grade may trade near melt, while a key date in high grade can command 10–100x melt value. Melt provides the floor — numismatic value provides the upside.

Are Morgan silver dollars a good investment?

Morgan dollars are among the most liquid and widely collected coins in the hobby — making them solid for collectors who want both numismatic appeal and investment potential. Common-date Morgans in MS-63 to MS-65 have held value well over decades and benefit from both collector demand and silver price movements. Key-date Morgans (1889-CC, 1893-S, 1895) have appreciated significantly over time. The best approach is to focus on condition — MS-65 and above examples of any date tend to outperform lower-grade common dates over the long term.

How do I get my coins graded by PCGS or NGC?

Both PCGS and NGC accept submissions directly through their websites or through authorized dealers. PCGS submissions go through PCGSCoinFacts.com — membership starts around $69/year. NGC submissions go through NGCcoin.com with similar tiers. Local coin shops that are authorized dealers can often submit on your behalf at better rates. Economy tier grading fees start at $20–$30 per coin with 30–45 business day turnaround. For coins worth under $75–$100, grading costs may not be justified — focus on higher-value key dates and better-grade examples.

What is the most valuable U.S. coin ever sold?

The 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle holds the record, selling for $18.9 million at Sotheby's in 2021. Nearly all 1933 Double Eagles were melted before release, making the handful that escaped extraordinary rarities. The 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar — believed to be the first silver dollar struck by the U.S. Mint — is the runner-up, selling for $10 million in 2013. The 1804 Silver Dollar, known as the "King of American Coins," ranks close behind: the finest known example realized $7.68 million at auction in 2021, and other surviving specimens have sold anywhere from roughly $2 million to $6 million depending on class and condition.