The 5M−5M−9M Coin Club: Legendary Rarities That Define Numismatics

Three Iconic Coins That Rewrote Auction Records

While not quite reaching the 20M+stratosphereofthe1933DoubleEagle,thesethreenumismaticlegendshaveeachcommanded∗∗20M+stratosphereofthe1933DoubleEagle,thesethreenumismaticlegendshaveeachcommanded∗∗5.5 to $9 million** at auction, representing the pinnacle of U.S. coin collecting. Here’s what makes them so extraordinary.

---

1. 1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar (Class I Original)

💰 Record: $8,966,146

“The King of American Coins”

Why It’s Legendary:

• Never Circulated: Minted 30 years after 1804 as diplomatic gifts
• Only 8 Originals Exist: All traced to the Sultan of Muscat set
• Mystique: Inspired countless replicas and forgeries

Key Authentication Points:

• Weight: 26.96g (416 grains)
• Edge Lettering: “HUNDRED CENTS ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT”
• Reverse: Heraldic eagle with 13-star shield
• Die Varieties: Class I specimens show specific crack patterns

Last Public Sale: Heritage 2023 – $8,966,146

---

2. 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar

💰 Record: $6,114,564

America’s First Dollar Coin

Historic Significance:

• First U.S. Dollar: Minted just 2 years after the Mint’s founding
• Silver Plug Variety: Some contain visible silver adjustment plugs
• Condition Rarity: Only 3-4 exist in Mint State

Identifying Features:

• Obverse: Flowing Hair Liberty with 15 stars
• Reverse: Small eagle within wreath
• Edge: Lettered with denomination
• Weight Variance: 26.96g ± 0.5g due to hand-struck production

Recent Auction: Stack’s Bowers 2024 – $6,114,564

---

3. 1913 Liberty Head Nickel

💰 Record: $5,511,797

The Forbidden Nickel

Notorious History:

• Never Officially Minted: Produced clandestinely under mysterious circumstances
• Only 5 Exist: All accounted for in famous collections
• Pop Culture Status: Featured in “Hawaii Five-O” and museum exhibits

Diagnostic Details:

• Weight: 5.0g
• Diameter: 21.2mm
• Edge: Plain
• Obverse: Liberty Head (should have been Buffalo design)

Last Private Sale: 2022 – $5,511,797 (PCGS PR66)

---

Why These Coins Command Millions

Common Value Drivers:

✔ Extreme Rarity (5-8 known specimens each)
✔ Fascinating Backstories involving mint irregularities
✔ Museum-Quality Preservation after centuries
✔ Celebrity Ownership Histories (e.g., Eliasberg, Norweb collections)

Potential Discovery Sites:

• European nobility collections (diplomatic gift recipients)
• Old bank collateral (pre-FDIC era holdings)
• Numismatic “time capsules” (unopened 19th century safes)

---

For Serious Collectors Only

Acquisition Considerations:

1. Insurance Requirements: $10M+ policies standard
2. Storage: Typically in museum-grade vaults
3. Authentication: Requires PCGS/NGC certification + provenance research

View current auction listings: Legendary Coin Marketplace

---