There is something magical about coins that transcends its nominal value. They carry pieces of history, mark moments and, sometimes, are worth much more than we can imagine.
Recently, a R$1 coin from the Rio 2016 Olympics was worth up to R$20,000 for collectors in Brazil.
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However, the title of the most valuable piece in the world belongs to a rare coin from the United States, auctioned for an astonishing US$18.87 million (about R$94 million) in June 2021.
This extraordinary coin, made of pure gold and almost a century old, has defied expectations and won the hearts of collectors around the world. But what makes it so special?
The story of the Double Eagle
The coin in question is part of the “Double Eagle” series, issued by the United States Mint, under the Treasury. Interestingly, this series never came into circulation, thanks to a historical event.
(Image: Getty Images/Reproduction)
In the 1930s, the president of U.S, Franklin D. Roosevelt, began the end of the convertibility of the US dollar into gold.
This marked the end of an era in which gold coins were used in everyday transactions. Among these pieces, the “Double Eagle” stood out as one of the most valuable.
The coin features a woman personifying freedom on one side and a flying eagle on the other, a work by American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
The “Double Eagle” became the most valuable coin in the world at the time, surpassing even the “Flowing Hair” silver dollar from 1794, sold for 10 million in 2013 (R$49.8 million at current prices).
The mystery of the missing eagles
Although around 445,000 Double Eagle coins were minted, most of them were melted down.
However, around 20 coins have mysteriously disappeared from the US Mint. Some of these examples appeared on the collectors' market before being seized by the US secret services.
Interestingly, one of the “Double Eagles” was part of the numismatic collection of King Farouk of Egypt, which adds a touch of royalty to your story.
The designer and the coin's journey
The story of this unique item continued when it was purchased in 1995 by a British collector. After a five-year legal battle, he was allowed to legally resell the piece in 2002 to American designer Stuart Weitzman for US$7.9 million.
Weitzman subsequently received a certificate of monetization from the United States Mint, transforming the piece into an official object of the country.
Weitzman, a famous shoe designer, is also an avid collector. He has assembled a unique collection that includes not only the “Double Eagle” but also the famous “One Cent Magenta” stamp from 1856, considered the rarest in the world, belonging to the former British colony of Guyana.
The value of history and rarity
The coin and stamp have invaluable historical value. Numismatics, the science that studies coins and medals, is a passion for many experts, and such rare objects are treasures that transcend money.
Their rarity, age and, in some cases, minting errors, as in the famous 1856 penny coin, add layers of value that go beyond price.
These relics continue to intrigue and enchant collectors and history lovers around the world, reminding us that behind a simple coin, there can be an incredible narrative and value that transcends imagination.
