In 1787, Ephraim Brasher, a goldsmith, minted a few gold coins known as Brasher Doubloons. In 1848, a New York City man named W.S. Appleton bought a collection of coins for $14. Within it was the Brasher Doubloon, which he later sold for $625.
In 1955, a Denver Mint worker noticed some irregularities in freshly minted Lincoln cents. It turned out to be a rare instance of a doubled die error, where the image was stamped onto the coin twice, creating a distinct doubling effect on the date and lettering. This error became highly sought after by collectors.
Only five Liberty Head nickels were minted in 1913, and they were thought to be lost for decades. In 2003, one of these coins resurfaced when it was discovered in the belongings of a North Carolina collector named George Walton, who died in a car accident in 1962. It became one of the most valuable coins in the world, selling for over $3 million.
During World War II, copper was in high demand for the war effort, so the U.S. Mint switched to zinc-coated steel for pennies in 1943. However, a few copper pennies were accidentally struck that year. One such penny was found by a teenager in his lunch change in 1947. It later sold for over $200,000.
In 2004, the U.S. Mint released a Wisconsin state quarter with an extra leaf on one of the cornstalks on the reverse side. This error wasn't noticed until after the coins were in circulation. Collectors eagerly searched through their pocket change, hoping to find this rare variety.
In 1933, the United States Mint produced over 445,000 Double Eagle gold coins, but due to the Gold Recall Order issued by President Roosevelt, most were melted down. However, a few escaped destruction. One such coin was sold at auction in 2002 for over $7.5 million.
In 1983, a doubled die error occurred on the reverse side of some Lincoln cents minted in Philadelphia. These coins feature a distinct doubling of the lettering and design elements on the reverse. Despite being relatively recent, they have become highly sought after by collectors.