Unlike biological or fashion, coins will not become extinct due to ecological changes, predators, overexposed or bored. Instead, the U.S. Mints simply stopped making them, which made them the “extinction” category.
This has been a lot going on in the United States over the past 250 years or so, and coins are coming – sometimes only in a few years. For collectors, extinction can help push the value of coins to thousands or even millions of dollars.
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The coin guarantee company speculates that all coins could eventually become extinct currencies as digital wallets and payments continue to play a bigger role in the economy. The current U.S. coins that may be extinct are fragments of single cents and five cents. This is partly because the cost of producing them far outweighs their value. Even so, if it happens, it can happen for many years.
Now you can still dig your pocket or wallet and pay with coins. One cent, nickel, dime and quarter are the recycled coins that are being used today. According to the U.S. Mint, while it can still be ordered and issued by the Federal Reserve and used as fiat currency, half dollar and $1 coins are produced as collectibles.
Even some modern currencies over the past few decades have become extinct – including the bicentennial quarter, some of which are now capturing nearly $20,000 in the collectibles market.
If you were lucky enough to stumble upon the long-term extinction of the 18th and 19th centuries, you might find yourself an instant millionaire. Here is the list of now extinct American coin factions quoted by NCG:
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Half a percentage point: 1793-1857
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Two cents: 1864-1873
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Three cents nickel:1865-1889
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Three American Bank: 1851-1873
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20 cents: 1875-1878
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$1 Gold: 1849-1889
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Two and a half dollars gold: 1796-1929
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$3 Gold: 1854-1889
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$4 gold (model): 1879-1880
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$5 Gold: 1795-1929
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$10 Gold: 1795-1933
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$20 Gold: 1849-1933
Depending on the criteria, you may get less than $100 to $2 million in some of the coins on the above list. Coins in original shapes are so rare that it is almost impossible to find them in the collectibles market because the owners don’t want to sell them.
Other people who are scratched and defiled can buy a lot in the market – you don’t have to sell your home to be affordable.
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These are 12 extinct coins that can bring thousands of dollars. This list includes the highest prices quoted on NGC and other coin sites. Remember that the highest priced coins are extremely rare, and most coins are still much less than the highest price.
