US notes and coins worth far more than their face value
Super-valuable US currency

Collectors of American notes and coins pay eye-watering sums of money for the most desirable examples. From pennies and dollar bills you may just find lurking in your wallet or purse, to historically important rarities that fetch millions, click or scroll through some US currency that is worth considerably more than its face value.
2005-P Kansas state “In God We Rust” quarter: up to $100

A number of 2005 Kansas state coins minted in Philadelphia were incorrectly imprinted with the motto “In God We Rust” as a build-up of grease in the die meant the 'T' didn't print. These so-called 'error coins', which are in circulation right now, are worth anything up to $100 apiece depending on their condition.
Repeat serial number bills: up to $160+

2006 misprint dollar bill: $200

1982 Roosevelt no mint mark dime: up to $300

1928 red seal $2 bill: up to $380

2004-D Wisconsin state extra leaf quarter coin: up to $400

As many as 50,000 Wisconsin state extra leaf quarters were issued accidentally by the Denver Mint in 2004. Two error varieties exist: the low leaf variety, which depicts an arched leaf jutting out sideways on the reverse of the coin; and the high leaf version, which shows an additional leaf poking out of the cheese wheel that touches the corn husk leaf. They are worth up to $400 each, so if you find one in your change make sure you hang onto it!
1972-P doubled die Lincoln penny coin: up to $500

Star serial number bills: up to $500

1999-P Wide AM Lincoln memorial penny coin: up to $500

1955-P doubled die Lincoln penny coin: up to $2,000

Solid serial number bills: up to $4,500

Notes with serial numbers made up of digits that are all identical are rare. Only one in 11 million bills printed have this type of serial number. As a result, they are worth big bucks. Considered lucky by some, this dollar bill with a serial number entirely comprised of sevens sold recently on eBay for $600, but a $100 bill made up of ones from 2006 is available now on the CoolSerialNumbers site for a remarkable $4,500.
Ladder serial number bills: up to $5,000+

Notes that have serial numbers with digits that ascend or descend are pretty prized. Called ladder bills, the most sought-after are the true or perfect ladder serial numbers 12345678 and 87654321. They are exceedingly scarce and represent only one in 96 million bills printed, hence their high value.
2000-P Sacagawea transitional error dollar coin: up to $15,000

Four Sacagawea commemorative dollars have been found with transitional errors, according to Mint Error News. These mistakes occur when a coin is struck with a different metal composition from the past then fed into a coin press for the current year. The mega-rare commemorative coins can be worth up to $15,000, and there may be more of them out there.
Low serial number bills: up to $15,000

Scan your bills for low serial numbers as they are worth serious money. In fact, according to the experts, a redesigned $100 bill with the serial number 00000001 could fetch between $10,000 and $15,000, though typically low serial number bills, say with numbers 00000002 or 00000005, are worth a little less, realizing up to $1,000.
1933 $10 silver certificate bill: up to $70,500

1969-S doubled die Lincoln penny: $126,500

You'll have hit the jackpot if you discover one of these babies in your change. Only 50 specimens max of the 1969-S doubled die Lincoln penny escaped the mint and made it into circulation. Michigan collector Michael Tremonti found one in 2007 while searching through a 50-coin roll that was later valued at a sensational $126,500.
1902 Alaska $5 Bill: $246,750

1943-P/-S Lincoln copper wheat penny coin: up to $282,000

During World War II pennies were struck in zinc-coated steel as copper was needed for the war effort, but a tiny batch was accidentally minted in copper. Up to 26 examples of the Philadelphia and San Francisco-minted coins are estimated to be floating around. In 1947, 16-year-old Don Lutes Jr discovered one of these coins in his lunch money change, and kept it. It recently sold at auction for a whopping $204,000. The best way to identify a 1943 copper penny is to use a magnet. Steel pennies will stick, while the valuable copper rarities will not.
2004 Del Monte $20 bill: $396,000

Here's a 2004 $20 bill that, unusually, had a Del Monte banana sticker attached to it before being printed with its security numbering. Prior to being sold at auction it was valued at $57,500, nearly 3,000 times its face value, but it defied all expectations when it sold in a Texas auction for a whopping $396,000, a record price for a banknote with an error.
1931 low serial number $10 silver certificate bill: $500,000

Unlike many other low serial number bills, you won't see this beauty in circulation. If only. This 1931 $10 silver certificate with the serial number A00000001A has been valued by numismatic experts at a cool $500,000.
1943-D Lincoln copper wheat penny coin: $1.7 million

While up to 26 specimens of the Philadelphia-minted 1943 copper penny are known to exist, just one Denver-struck example has been discovered and, as a result, this fabled coin is worth an absolute fortune. In fact, the only known specimen was sold for a jaw-dropping $1.7 million by New Jersey's Legend Numismatics back in 2010.
1907 rolled edge eagle $10 coin: up to $2.2 million

Very few gold 1907 rolled edge eagle $10 coins are known to have survived to the present, and collectors have entered into fierce bidding wars to get hold of these elusive coins. The finest example sold for $2.2 million at auction in 2011.
1891 red seal $1,000 treasury note: $2.5 million

1792 Birch penny coin: up to $2.6 million

1890 Grand Watermelon $1,000 treasury note: $3.3 million

The world-famous 1890 Grand Watermelon $1,000 treasury note exceeded all expectations when it fetched a staggering $3.3 million at auction in 2014, making it the world's most valuable banknote. The bill is so-named on account of the zeros, which have been likened to watermelons.
1804/1830s Bust dollar coin: up to $4.1 million

Only 15 examples of the 1804 Bust dollar, AKA the Bowed Liberty dollar coin, are known to exist with the finest Class I pieces commanding sky-high prices. While they are dated 1804, the coins were actually struck during the 1830s or later. This specimen sold for $4.1 million in 1999, while another fetched $3.9 million at auction in 2013.
1913 Liberty Head nickel coin: up to $5 million

Only five 1913 nickels bearing the Liberty Head design stil exist. Heritage Auctions sold one for $3.7 million in 2010 and another for $3.2 million in 2013. The most valuable example, the so-called Eliasberg Specimen, was bought by a private collector for $5 million in 2007.
1804/1834 proof eagle $10 coin: up to $5 million

This exquisite $10 gold coin dated 1804 was actually minted in 1834 for President Andrew Jackson to offer as a diplomatic gift to officials in Asia. Today, only four examples exist, and this particular specimen sold for $5 million at auction in 2007.
1794 Lord St Oswald-Norweb Flowing Hair dollar coin: $5 million

1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagle $20 coin: up to $7.6 million

1787 New York-Style Brasher Doubloon: $9.36 million

The finest example out of seven known 1787 New York-Style Brasher Doubloons, this gold coin hit the headlines in January this year when it sold for a huge $9.36 million at Heritage Auctions in Texas. Discovered in 1848, this particular coin caused a storm as it has only been publicly sold twice since its first discovery, and both times reached record prices. The most recent of these record-breaking sales was in 1979 when it went for $725,000, holding the record of the world's most valuable coin for a decade. While its 2021 sale breaks its streak of records, it certainly comes close to the top spot.
1794 'Carter' Flowing Hair dollar coin: $10 million

The world's most valuable coin and then some, this 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar is the finest known example and was among the first dollar coins minted. Described as a "national treasure" by numismatic expert Steven Contursi, the historically important coin sold for an almost unbelievable $10 million at auction in 2013.
Now read about how the US dollar has changed over time
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