5 Coins Wanted by Collectors!

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Written By Natasha Jones
I'm Natasha Jones, an avid collector of coins, stamps, and paper money. My passion drives me to seek unique finds, from antique shops to international exchanges. I enjoy connecting with fellow collectors through forums and meet-ups, sharing discoveries and insights.

It’s no secret that the coin market is booming. It’s also no surprise that collectors are searching for rare coins to add to their collections.

What are some rare coins wanted by collectors?

In this article, I’ll show you some of the best coins wanted by collectors!

Coins Wanted by Collectors:

1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent

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“I want a new coin to honor the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth,” said President Roosevelt in 1907.

Well, you see, Roosevelt considered showcasing President Lincoln’s image on the coin.

In the end, he approved a coin design proposal that was put forward by Victor David Brenner, who happens to be a sculptor and engraver.

In 1909, the Americans eagerly anticipated the release of the new Lincoln Cent.

This was a historic moment as it marked the first time in American history that a regular-issue coin featured a real person.

So, on August 2, 1909, the police had to be called in to control the crowd when the coin was released for the first time on Wall Street.

You may recall that Newsboys made a name for themselves by capitalizing on the high demand for Lincoln cents.

They doubled their profits by enduring long queues and selling three coins for just five cents.

Soon after, there was a public uproar and scandal surrounding the design, particularly regarding Brenner’s initials “V.D.B” on the back of the coin.

There were internal complaints regarding the size and placement of the initials. “Stop the mints!” exclaimed Treasury Secretary Franklin MacVeagh a few days later.

“I have decided to halt production of the coin and order the removal of the initials,” he said.

By then, folks had struck nearly 28 million cents in Philadelphia and about 484,000 at the San Francisco Mint.

Let me tell you that this coin with the V.D.B. initials is an absolute must-have for any Lincoln cent collection nowadays.

So, in 1918, the initials came back, but they were smaller and on the front instead of the back.

It’s worth noting that rumors were circulating that Charles Barber, the Mint’s chief engraver, was the one who made the initial complaint about the initials.

This is particularly interesting given that it happened so soon after Barber’s death.

$4 Gold Stella

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There exists a $4 gold coin that is widely recognized as a Stella due to the five-pointed star displayed on its reverse side.

So, we have a gold coin minted back in 1879 and 1880. It was created as a prototype to match the value of other foreign gold coins that were commonly used at the time.

The Stellas were never intended for circulation, but as soon as they were released, collectors were immediately drawn to these magnificent coins.

It has been said that no coin collector could get their hands on a Stella from the U.S. Mint.

However, it seems that the Congressman who received a special order for prototype viewing used them as gifts and maybe even payment.

According to the rumors, the top madams in Washington used to wear these exquisite pieces of numismatic art as necklaces.

It was believed that the Congressmen who frequented their brothels were the ones who gifted them these necklaces.

Today, folks, these rare coins come with a hefty price tag.

This ultra-rarity might be out of reach for several collectors.

For those of you who have the resources, this gem should be treasured.

The $4 Stella is a historic gem from a truly exciting time in American history.

$20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle

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Let me tell you about the Saints. T

hey’re affectionately known as that, and let me tell you, they’re considered by many to be one of the most beautiful coins ever produced by the U.S. Mint.

These exquisite coins were brought into existence thanks to the collaboration of two legendary figures from the annals of history.

“I have decided that our nation’s gold coins require a more classical design,” said President Theodore Roosevelt.

Roosevelt initiated his plan to transform the country’s currency by commissioning the remarkable Augustus Saint-Gaudens, a gifted sculptor of the era.

So the story goes that one evening at a dinner party in Washington, Roosevelt asked Saint-Gaudens to take on the huge task of redesigning America’s gold coins.

The $20 Saint-Gaudens gold piece was minted from 1907 to 1933, except in 1917-1919.

During that time, World War I caused bullion prices to rise and led to an increase in American gold coins coming in from Europe.

Morgan Silver Dollar

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In the opinion of numerous collectors, The Morgan Silver Dollar is regarded as the foremost coin design crafted by George T. Morgan.

The Morgan Dollar is a coin minted in the United States between 1878 and 1904 and then again in limited production in 1921.

Between 1878 and 1904, they minted over 500 million Morgan Dollars during the initial production phase!

Did you know that during World War I, the U.S. government melted down over 270 million silver dollars, most of which were Morgans?

This was done to help finance the war.

The Pittman Act demanded their replacement, thus paving the way for the final production of Morgans ever minted in 1921.

As you can see on the coin’s obverse, the head of Lady Liberty takes center stage on the striking face of the coin.

The date, 13 stars, and the phrase E Pluribus Unum, which translates to “Out of Many, One” in Latin, surround her.

And on the reverse, we have the American bald eagle perched on a branch, with its wings dramatically spread out and clutching arrows in one of its paws.

This piece of art features a 3/4 wreath surrounding it, and you can see the motto “In God We Trust” proudly displayed above the eagle’s head.

If there’s a mint mark, it’s located beneath the wreath.

It’s easy to see why we numismatists love the Morgan dollar.

Wow, holding that large, nearly palm-sized, heavy silver dollar must be quite a joy!

Mercury Dime

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You might already know about the Winged Liberty Head Dime, commonly called the “Mercury” Dime.

This popular coin was struck by the U.S. Mint from 1916 until 1945.

This coin is one of the iconic ones that we, as numismatics, acquire for our sets.

One reason even novice collectors can achieve the gratifying objective of possessing a complete set of Mercury Dimes is their widespread availability throughout most of the year.

In the Mercury Dime series, only a handful of coins are considered absolute rarities, and let me tell you, there’s just one that’s a bit of a challenge to come across.

Folks, let me tell you that the 1916-D is the scarcest major key date and rarity within the Mercury Dime series.

Just 264,000 got struck. So, we have some other important dates to consider: 1921 and 1921-D, as well as 1942-1 and 1942-1D.

I would say, The later key dates exhibit ‘overdates’ where the number ‘2’ is stamped over the number ‘1’.

Americans often mistook the reverse of the coin featuring a young Liberty for the Roman god Mercury, hence the popular name it acquired.

The design of the coin was well-received by the artistic community.

However, we had to make some modifications as the coin wasn’t performing well in vending machines.

Collectors actively pursue this stunning coin for the exceptional design created by Adolph A. Weinman. Ninety percent of the metal content is silver, and the remaining ten percent is copper.

Before you go…

So there you have it! These are only some of the best rare coins to collect if you’re looking for coins to collect! I hope this article helped you decide which coins to add to your collection, and if you have any suggestions on the topics to cover, make sure to leave them in the comment section! Happy Collecting!

Check out my next article: “11 Old Commemorative Coins for You to Collect!

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