When you think of collectors, there are a couple of things that come to mind. There are people who collect stamps, comic books, and trading cards. But there is one group in particular that lies close to my heart because I’ve done it myself: there are dozens of coins to collect.
I collected the Euro. Of course, that is not a valuable coin to invest in, at least, not at this time. However, there are coins worth investing in. Let’s have a look at the top 10 coins to collect!
1) 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent
The number one coin to collect is the 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent. Only 484,000 pieces have been made of this specific edition. The V.D.B. plays a crucial role in the value of this coin. A little history lesson:
In 1909, the United States changed the Indian Head on the one-cent coin to a design that commemorates the 100th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth. It immediately became a very popular coin.
The designer of the coin, Victor David Brenner put his three initials (V.D.B.) on the backside of the coin near the bottom. Previous designers only use their last initial, and mint designer Charles Barber took exception to this new trend. After the United States Mint facility at San Francisco produced 484,000 new Lincoln pennies, the three initials were removed. I don’t need to tell you that this modification created an immediate scarcity.
Due to the exception and the scarcity, many collectors state that this is the most popular U.S. coin. The 1909-S VDB is called the “Holy Grail” of Lincoln pennies. This coin has ever kept its value and prestige among collectors of United States coins.
Optimal Collecting Grade: EF-40
Optimal Investment Grade: MS-65
2) 1921 Peace Dollar
The silver Peace Dollar was designed by Anthony DeFrancisci, and it was first produced in December 1921. Farran Zerbe, former President of the American Numismatic Association from 1908 to 1910 first proposed the idea to commemorate the peace that followed after World War I. DeFrancisci turned that idea in the design emblematic of liberty on the obverse and peace symbolized by an American Eagle on the reverse.
The first silver Peace Dollars minted in 1921 had a high relief but were too difficult to strike properly. Metal was unable to reach the deep recesses of the dies what resulted in a lack of detail. A little more than one million coins were made. The coin is considered quite scarce, but you should be able to get your hands on an exemplar.
Optimal Collecting Grade: MS-63
Optimal Investment Grade: MS-65
3) 1878-CC Morgan Silver Dollar
If we’re talking about coins to collect, we’ll always have to talk about history. So, here’s another lesson:
In 1878, the Congress of the United States passed the Bland-Allison Act that required the government to purchase huge quantities of silver and turn it into dollars. Initially, engraver George T. Morgan created this design to be used on a half dollar. Later, it was adjusted and applied for the silver dollar beginning in 1878. To fulfill the requirements of the Bland-Allison Act, the US Mint was completely consumed by producing silver dollars.
It’s not that scarce a coin to collect with around two million pieces minted, it does have some character to it since it’s one of the early coins produced at the Carson City mint.
Optimal Collecting Grade: MS-63
Optimal Investment Grade: MS-65 DMPL
4) 1914-D Lincoln Cent
Whereas the 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln cent is a very rare coin, the 1914-D Lincoln cent is close with only 1,193,000 coins produced, which is a little more than double the former coin with a mintage of 484,000 coins.
The special thing about this coin is that uncirculated exemplars were not saved in the same quantities that the 1909-S VDB coins were. Thus, the uncirculated 1914-D specimens are rarer than the 1909-S V.D.B. coins.
The Lincoln cents are very desired coins to collect. That’s why this coin as well has kept its value over time, especially the quality uncirculated coins. However, you should watch out when selecting a circulated exemplar. The coin should be evenly toned and shouldn’t have scratches or dings.
Optimal Collecting Grade: EF-40
Optimal Investment Grade: MS-63
5) 1955/55 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent
Although the 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln cent is considered an error coin (the most famous error coin ever produced by the US Mint), it’s excessively wanted by collectors. Another history lesson:
To produce this coin, the US Mint used a coin die that received two impressions that were a little offset from each other. The error was only discovered after a mintage of 20 to 24 thousand specimens was already mixed with a batch of properly produced coins. It was decided that it was not worth melting the entire edition just to exclude the error coins that got mixed in.
When local newspapers in the northeastern US discovered this error coin, everyone started pulling out the coins of circulation. Local coin shops were buying them immediately because they knew the value of an error coin can and most probably will rise.
Optimal Collecting Grade: MS-62BN
Optimal Investment Grade: MS-65RB
6) 1937-D 3 Legged Buffalo Nickel
The second error coin of the list is the 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo nickel. The long time and high cost to produce coin die caused minters to polish or ground the die in order to extend their die life. Unfortunately, or fortunately, in the eyes of collectors, an overzealous mint employee ground the surface of the die so much that it removed the details for the front leg of the Buffalo on the backside of the coin.
However, this coin didn’t receive the popularity and newsworthiness of the 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln cent at first. That’s why most of these coins have circulated. The circulated ones are available for a reasonable price, but the uncirculated ones cost a ton.
Optimal Collecting Grade: EF-40
Optimal Investment Grade: MS-63
7) 1916-D Mercury Dime
This coin is actually named “Winged Liberty Head Dime,” but people thought that the lady with wings on her head was the Roman god Mercury, thus the name Mercury. The coin is very rare because of its mintage of only 264,000 pieces made. Next to that, the coin is so popular due to its new design.
Optimal Collecting Grade: F-12
Optimal Investment Grade: AU-53
8) 1917 Standing Liberty Quarter: Type 1
The Type 1 of this coin is super expensive and rare due to its very limited mintage. Consequently, the second year of production in 1917 is a more affordable exemplar.
The Type 1 features Lady Liberty with her left breast exposed. Conservative people were outraged and many believe that caused the US Mint to make a second type of this coin with a coat of chain mail covering her breast. Another theory, however, is that in 1917 the US were preparing to enter the Great War and the chain mail coat was added to show that they were ready for battle.
Optimal Collecting Grade: MS-65
Optimal Investment Grade: MS-67FH
9) 1932-D Washington Quarter
First produced in 1932, this quarter was intended to be a one-year coin to commemorate the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth. Due to the Great Depression, however, no Washington coin was produced in 1933. But the issue was so popular that the design was permanently adopted in 1934 and is still in use today.
The 1932-S Washington quarter has a lower mintage than the 1932-D, but more of the former were saved. The 1932-D quarter is scarce and is a better addition to your coin collection.
Optimal Collecting Grade: AU-53
Optimal Investment Grade: MS-64
10) 1908 St. Gaudens Arabic Numerals No Motto
The most prominent numismatists agree that the Saint-Gaudens $20 gold coin is the most beautiful coin ever made by the US Mint. Ready for the last history lesson of today?
The United States Mint first minted this coin in 1907. The first specimens were made in ultra-high relief but in retrospect, they were too difficult to strike correctly and bankers were unable to stack neatly. The mint decided to lower the relief in 1908 and coins were readily made for production.
Now, what does the “No Motto” in the title stand for? Initially, the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” was not included in the original design by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. At the end of 1908, the design was modified to include the motto on the backside of the coin. So, the coin without the motto is more scarce and thus worth more.
Optimal Collecting Grade: MS-66
Optimal Investment Grade: MS-67
Coins to collect conclusion
Coins are a beautiful and great item to collect. Do you already own one or more of these coins? Then you’ve got a very valuable piece in your collection! Want to expand your market? Then check out these watches to invest in.
Discover more valuable collectibles for a nice addition to your collection.
