Serious Buyers of All Graded Coins

Read Our Guide Learn More About The Market for PCGS and NCG Coins

What makes an old coin valuable? Rarity, date, mint mark, and condition can all play an important role. Serious coin collectors often seek scarce dates and mint marks, especially when a coin survives in exceptional condition. Finding those coins isn't always easy, and particularly desirable examples can be worth substantially more than common coins from the same series.

The list below highlights some of the rare and key-date U.S. coins we recommend looking for when examining an old coin collection. It focuses primarily on coin types we regularly encounter, so it should not be considered a complete list of every valuable U.S. coin ever produced.

If your coin isn't listed here, that does not mean it isn't valuable. Most of the coins we buy aren't extremely rare key dates. Common-date collectible coins, silver coins, gold coins, and entire collections can still have significant value.

What Do Mint Marks Mean on U.S. Coins?

A mint mark identifies the U.S. Mint facility where a coin was produced. For the coins discussed below, you may encounter these mint marks:

C — Charlotte, North Carolina
CC — Carson City, Nevada
D — Dahlonega, Georgia, or Denver, Colorado, depending on the coin and year
O — New Orleans, Louisiana
P — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
S — San Francisco, California

Philadelphia coins frequently have no mint mark, particularly on older U.S. coinage.

The mint mark matters because two otherwise similar coins from the same year can have dramatically different mintages, survival rates, and collector values.

Rare Pennies and Cents

Flying Eagle Cent: 1856

Indian Head Cent: 1877

Lincoln Wheat Cent: 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, 1922 No D, 1931-S

These are some of the better-known key dates among early U.S. cents. The 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent, for example, is one of the most recognizable key-date Lincoln cents among collectors.

Rare Nickels

Shield Nickel: 1880

Liberty Head Nickel: 1885, 1912-S

Condition can be especially important with older nickels, and additional varieties exist beyond the dates listed here.

Rare Dimes

Barber Dime: 1894-S, 1895-O

Mercury Dime: 1916-D

The 1916-D Mercury dime is one of the key dates collectors frequently look for in the Mercury dime series.

Rare Quarters

Barber Quarter: 1896-S, 1901-S, 1913-S

Standing Liberty Quarter: 1916, 1927-S

Washington Quarter: 1932-D, 1932-S

If you have an early Washington quarter dated 1932, checking the reverse for a D or S mint mark is particularly important.

Rare Half Dollars

Barber Half Dollar: 1904-S

Walking Liberty Half Dollar: 1919-D, 1921-D, 1921-S

These aren't the only collectible half dollars, but they are among the dates and mint marks worth paying attention to when sorting an older collection.

Rare $1 Gold Coins

Gold Dollar: 1849-C, 1850-D, 1852-D, 1854-D, 1855-C, 1855-D, 1856-D, 1857-C, 1857-D, 1858-D, 1860-D, 1861-D, 1875

The C and D mint marks are particularly interesting on early Southern gold coins because they represent the historic Charlotte and Dahlonega branch mints rather than Denver.

Rare $2.50 Gold Coins

Liberty Head $2.50 Quarter Eagle: 1840-D, 1841, 1841-D, 1842-C, 1842-D, 1845-O, 1848, 1849-C, 1854-D, 1855-C, 1855-D, 1856-D, 1859-D, 1862-S, 1864, 1865, 1875

Indian Head $2.50 Quarter Eagle: 1911-D

Rare $3 Gold Coins

Three Dollar Gold Piece: 1854-D, 1854-O, 1855-S, 1857-S, 1860-S, 1873, 1875, 1876, 1877

Three-dollar gold pieces are an unusual denomination in their own right, and certain dates and mint marks can be especially desirable to collectors.

Rare $5 Gold Coins

Liberty Head $5 Half Eagle: 1839-D, 1840-C, 1847-O, 1850-D, 1861-C, 1861-D, 1861-S, 1862-S, 1863-S, 1870-CC, 1871-CC, 1873-CC, 1874-CC, 1875, 1875-CC, 1875-S, 1876-CC, 1877-CC, 1878-CC

Indian Head $5 Half Eagle: 1909-O, 1929

Rare $10 Gold Coins

Liberty Head $10 Eagle: 1838, 1839, 1841-O, 1842-O, 1849-O, 1852-O, 1855-O, 1855-S, 1857-O, 1858, 1858-S, 1859-O, 1859-S, 1860-S, 1861-S, 1862-S, 1863, 1863-S, 1864-S, 1865, 1865-S, 1866, 1867-S, 1869, 1869-S, 1870-CC, 1870-S, 1871-CC, 1871-S, 1872-CC, 1873, 1873-CC, 1874-CC, 1874-S, 1875, 1875-CC, 1876, 1876-CC, 1877-CC, 1878-CC, 1879-CC, 1879-O, 1882-CC, 1883-O

Indian Head $10 Eagle: 1920-S, 1930-S

Rare $20 Gold Coins

Liberty Head $20 Double Eagle: 1850-O, 1851-O, 1852-O, 1853-O, 1854-O, 1855-O, 1856-O, 1857-O, 1858-O, 1859, 1859-O, 1860-O, 1861-O, 1866-S, 1870-CC, 1871-CC, 1872-CC, 1873-CC, 1878-CC, 1879-CC, 1879-O, 1881, 1882, 1885, 1885-CC, 1886, 1891, 1891-CC

Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagle: 1920-S, 1921, 1927-D, 1927-S, 1930-S, 1931, 1931-D, 1932

Some rare Double Eagles can have significant numismatic value beyond the gold they contain. Because of that, an older $20 gold coin should be properly identified before anyone treats it simply as scrap or bullion gold.

Does a Rare Date Automatically Make a Coin Valuable?

Not necessarily. Date and mint mark are only part of the equation. Condition, authenticity, variety, demand, and other characteristics can affect what a collector is willing to pay.

The opposite is also important: a coin does not have to be a famous key date to have value. Common-date gold coins contain valuable precious metal, many older silver coins have both silver and collector value, and complete or nearly complete collections can be desirable even when they don't contain an exceptionally rare coin.

Don't Clean a Rare Coin

If you think you've found one of the dates or mint marks listed above, do not clean, polish, or attempt to improve the coin's appearance. Cleaning can damage the original surfaces and potentially reduce its collector value.

Leave the coin as you found it and have it evaluated in its current condition.

Have a Rare Coin? Let Spartan Gold & Coin Take a Look

Online lists are useful for identifying coins that deserve a closer look, but they aren't a substitute for examining the actual coin. Varieties, condition, authenticity, and subtle differences can all affect value.

If you've inherited a coin collection, discovered old coins that have been stored for years, or simply aren't sure what you have, bring them to Spartan Gold & Coin in Greenville, SC. We can help identify your coins, look for better dates and mint marks, and explain which pieces may have collector value.

And remember: don't assume a coin is worthless just because you don't see its date on this list. Most coins aren't extremely rare, but that doesn't mean we aren't interested in buying them.