$21,602,832 USD - Most Valuable Coins Ever in American History
The 1933 $20 Saint Gaudens Gold Double Eagle is one of the most famous and most valuable of all US coins. It has a unique history related to the Great Depression and even major legal disputes today.
445500 of these coins were actually produced in 1933 - yet none of them went into circulation.
About 20 of these coins were stolen from the US Mint before the rest were melted. These coins got into the hands of collectors through Israel Swift who was a Philadelphia jeweler
These coins traded hands between collectors for years before the Secret Service became aware of these coins appearing at a Stack's Bowers auction.
The first investigation was launched in March of 1944. 7 coins were recovered that same year along with one in 1945 and finally a total of 10 coins were recovered by 1952 - all of these were destroyed by the US Mint.
In 2005: 10 more coins were recovered from the family of Israel Swift - who originally sold the first 10 coins back in the 1930s and 1940s.
1933 Saint Gaudens Gold $20 Double EagleWith Motto - In God We TrustSold at $21,602,832 USD