Many people wonder what the rarest coin in the world is. While there’s no consensus, there are very valuable coins that cost unbelievable amounts of money. In our consideration of what the rarest coin in the world is, we wanted to evaluate several things. 

First, the rarest coin in the world should be available for purchase by the general public. Many museums around the world have priceless, one-of-a-kind pieces that will never find their way into a private collection. 

Second, we won’t be considering error coins because their importance is due to an error in the coin’s creation. Third, we won’t be considering “gimmick” coins. These coins are generally massive disks of gold that are ceremonially minted by a central bank but don’t actually have value outside of their gold content. 

Finally, we’ll only consider coins that were actually used as money. This means that they were circulated, or at least could have been circulated. Furthermore, we will take a special look at the scarcity, historical value, and selling price of each coin to determine its rarity.

#3 – GOLD DINAR

The 723 Umayyad Golden Dinar shows the writing of “Mine of the Commander of the Faithful in the Hijaz.” This is one of the very few coins from that time to still visibly show that inscription. The gold that the coin is made of also came from the king’s mine.

SCARCITY

There are only about one dozen of these coins that are currently in existence. It is possible to find dinars for a few hundred dollars, but the inscriptions are lacking.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The inscription on this particular coin links the King to Muhamad, the founder of Islam. The dinar is also one of the longest-lasting pieces of money in human history. It began with the “denarius” in Roman times and continued as the Dinar through the Byzantine empire and Islamic empires. The name still exists today as the name for Iraq’s modern currency.

SELLING PRICE 

In 2019, another version of the coin was sold for about $4.8 million, making it one of the most expensive coins ever sold.

#2 – 1343 KING EDWARD III FLORIN

The Florin was once the currency used and issued by the city-state of Florence, Italy. Its popularity as a stable currency grew and soon became the standard across Europe because of its link to gold. This King Edward II Florin was minted for use in England.

SCARCITY

There are only three known 1343 King Edward III Florins in existence.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The historical significance comes from the Florin’s use and establishment as a stable currency. The Florin is a well-known economic powerhouse in the Middle Ages that is still valued today for its historic reputation

SELLING PRICE:

The coin’s value currently sits at approximately $6.8 million.

#1 FLOWING HAIR SILVER DOLLAR

The flowing hair silver dollar is one of the oldest coins in the USA’s history. The coin was produced only in 1794 and 1795 before the design changed and other coins were minted.

SCARCITY

It’s unknown how many coins exist. However, experts place the number between 120 – 1800, making this coin exceedingly rare.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The flowing hair silver dollar was the first coin that was ever struck by the US Mint. After George Washington asked Congress to create the Mint, Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1792. The Constitution was ratified in 1789, making the coin only 5 – 6 years younger than the age of the USA.

SELLING PRICE

Condition considerations certainly affect the value of the coin. However, in 2013 one of these coins was sold for $10,000,000.

If you have any questions about how to acquire bullion or coins, our experts are standing by, ready to help you purchase the next addition to your precious metals portfolio.

**Prices stated in this article are subjective and not intended to project actual value. All precious metal prices are dependent on several factors.**