Eric Sepanek
SBC Founder
Eric Sepanek is the founder of Scottsdale Bullion & Coin, established in 2011. With extensive experience in the precious metals industry, he is dedicated to educating Americans on the wealth preservation power of gold and silver.
The rich history and diverse range of American coinage can easily keep investors and coin collectors focused within the country’s borders. However, there are some tremendous foreign coins with rivaling numismatic appeal and inherent value. Understanding what foreign coins are worth money can help investors further diversify their precious metals portfolios for greater protection and security.
The 14 Most Valuable Foreign (non-US) Coins
| Most Valuable Foreign Coins | Mint Date | Country of Origin | Auction Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fengtien Tael | 1903 | China | $6,900,000 |
| Umayyad Gold Dinar | 723 | Umayyad Caliphate | $6,029,400 |
| Aureus of Marcus Junius Brutus | 42 BC | Roman Republic | $4,174,950 |
| $1 Million Canadian Gold Maple Leaf | 2007 | Canada | $4,070,000 |
| Single 9 Pond (20 million ZAR) | 1898 | South African Republic | $4,000,000 |
| Long Whisker Dragon Dollar | 1911 | China | $3,000,000 |
| Decadrachm | 409-406 BC | Agrigentum | $2,918,000 |
| Ruble Pattern | 1825 | Russian Empire | $2,460,000 |
| Edward VIII 5 Pounds Pattern | 1937 | United Kingdom | $2,280,000 |
| 100 ducat of Sigismund III Vasa | 1621 | Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth | $2,160,000 |
| Pattern “Mukden Tiger” Dollar | 1928 | China | $2,160,000 |
| Sestertius of Hadrian | 135-136 AD | Roman Empire | $1,648,805 |
| Gold 10000 Yuan | 1991 | China | $1,567,190 |
| 5 Pounds, Victoria | 1839 | United Kingdom | $1,440,000 |
1. Fengtien Tael
The preeminent Fengien Tael coin is the most valuable foreign coin ever recorded with a price tag of just below $7 million. Despite its relatively recent mint date of 1903, this coin is heralded for its historical significance during the Qing Dynasty. Its connection to a pivotal moment in Chinese history along with its immense rarity make it a highly valued foreign coin.
2. Umayyad Gold Dinar
The Umayyad Gold Dinar has actually set two records as one of the most valuable foreign coins. One version was sold in 2011 for just over 6 million while another iteration was purchased for nearly 5 million in 2019. It boasts an impressive mint date of 723 in the Umayyad Caliphate which marked a golden age for the Islamic world.
3. Aureus of Marcus Junius Brutus
The aureus was a standard gold coin of ancient Rome used for daily transactions. This particular specimen was minted at the behest of Marcus Junius Brutus – the famed conspirator behind the assassination of Julius Caesar. It was produced in 42 BC, making it one of the oldest coins on this list.
4. Big Maple Leaf
The Big Maple Leaf is a colossal version of the classic Gold Maple Leaf which has a few records to its name. Despite having a face value of $1 million, the sheer scale and intricate design of the coin imbue it with significantly more value. It was estimated to be worth over $4 million. Guinness even recognized it as the world’s biggest coin.
5. Single 9 Pond
Dubbed the “King of South African Coins”, the Single 9 Pond fetched a sales price of $4 million. It’s the only coin of its kind known to survive today, adding to the tremendous evaluation and exceptional demand. The Single 9 Pond is closely associated with the country’s gold mining history which gives it plenty of historical appeal.
6. Long Whisker Dragon Dollar
The iconic Long Whisker Dragon Dollar features an intricate dragon design and represents a crucial point in Chinese history. It was minted in 1911, making it one of the newest on this list. The combination of relatively limited production and widespread destruction ensured only a small number survived.
7. Decadrachm
The millennia-old Decadrachm was minted in Agrigentum (modern-day Sicily) around 400 BC. This large silver coin showcases the wealth and artistic excellence of the ancient Greek city-state. Its rarity, unusual size, and exquisite craftsmanship make it a coveted piece among numismatists and imbue it with tremendous value.
8. Ruble Pattern
The Ruble Pattern is a rare coin from the Russian Empire that never reached full-scale production, securing its scarcity. It featured the presumed Emperor Constantine who ended up abdicating the throne which he saw as a death sentence given his father’s untimely fate. This particular Ruble Pattern coin is only one of three known to exist and was sold for $2.46 million.
9. Edward VIII 5 Pounds Pattern
The Edward VIII 5 Pounds Pattern is a British coin that never went into circulation due to the abdication of King Edward VIII. Its historical rarity, tied to a short-lived reign, contributes to its allure among coin collectors and investors. Despite having just a 5-pound face value, this coin is valued at over $2.2 million.
10. 100 Ducat of Sigismund III Vasa
King Sigismund III Vasa celebrated a momentous military defeat by ordering the production of a limited number of gold coins with a face value of 100 ducats of local currency at the time. These remarkable coins are the largest and most valuable Polish coins ever produced. One of the finest specimens sold for $2.16 million.
11. Pattern “Mukden Tiger” Dollar
Only 10 versions of this prominent “Mukden Tiger” dollars have been certified by NGC and PCGS, highlighting this silver pattern coin’s rarity. It depicts the famous warlord Chang Tso-Lin who oversaw a limited production of coinage during his reign. This 1928 issue fetched $2.16 million at auction.
12. Sestertius of Hadrian
With an impressive mint date of 2 AD, the Sestertius of Hadrian occupies a unique place in Roman history. It depicts the famed Emperor Hadrian and marks a crucial time in the ancient Roman empire. This particular coin fetched over $1.6 million due to its incredible age, remarkable condition, and extreme scarcity.
13. Gold 10000 Yuan
The Gold 10000 Yuan is one of only 10 coins minted to commemorate China’s 10th anniversary of producing Panda gold coins. Clocking in at over 10 pounds, the Gold 10000 Yuan is a colossal bullion coin. It might be considered modern compared to many ancient and historic coinages on this list, but it still maintains an incredible sale price of over $1.5 million. This high value is owed to the coin’s unusual size, high gold contents, and relative scarcity.
14. 5 Pounds Victoria
Minted in 1839 as part of a limited release of proof cois, this Victorian Era coin has far exceeded its face value of 5 pounds. Known in the numismatic community as the Una and the Lion coin, only 400 were ever produced. This version holds one of the highest coin gradings of its kind at PR 66. This numismatic treasure sold for over $1.4 million.
Valuable Foreign Coins for Everyday Investors
It’s intriguing to learn about the most valuable foreign coins, but these record-setting assets fall out of reach for the overwhelming majority of investors. Fortunately, there are still plenty of foreign-minted bullion coins and rare coins that are far more accessible. This offshore coinage gives investors greater diversity and options beyond American coins. Here are some of the most valuable foreign coins for diversifying your portfolio, hedging against inflation, and securing your wealth.
Canadian Gold & Silver Maple Leaf
The Maple Leaf is the official bullion coin of Canada and remains one of the most popular foreign coins among US investors. The Gold Maple Leaf possesses a high purity of .9999 while its counterpart the Silver Maple Leaf enjoys a .999 fineness rating. The gold version comes in five different coin sizes (1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz, and 1/20 oz) while the silver iteration is only available in 1 oz coins. Canadian Maple Leaf coins enjoy high liquidity, steady demand, and IRA eligibility.
Britannia Gold & Silver Coins
The Royal Mint has been producing Gold Britannia and Silver Britannia coins since 1987. As the official bullion coins of Great Britain, this coinage is sought-after for its widespread recognition, high purity, and range of coin sizes. In 2013, Britannia gold and silver coins received an increase in their precious metals contents from .9167 to .9999 gold and .958 to .999 silver, respectively. Thus, all Britannia coins minted in 2013 and after are considered eligible precious metals for an IRA. Both versions come in seven different coin sizes: 5 oz, 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz, 1/20 oz & 1/40 oz.
South Africa Gold & Silver Krugerrand
Introduced in 1967, the South African Krugerrand is considered the oldest modern bullion coin, equipping the coin with a solid reputation as a store of wealth. Similar to other official bullion coins, the Krugerrand comes in gold and silver iterations. Notably, the Gold Krugerrand coin only has a 91.67% purity rating which is relatively low when compared to other gold bullion coins. The Silver Krugerrand, on the other hand, offers a high fineness of 99.9%. As a result, only Silver Krugerrands meet the fineness requirements to be eligible for a precious metals IRA. The gold coins come in 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, and 1/10 oz sizes while the silver versions are only minted in standard 1 oz sizes.
Vienna Philharmonic
The Vienna Philharmonic is an official bullion coin of the Austrian and is one of the best-selling bullion coins in existence. The Gold Philharmonic coin is prized for its high purity of .9999 gold which provides it with high inherent value and makes it eligible for gold IRAs. It’s available in four sizes: 1oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, and 1/10 oz. All sizes are struck in pure .9999 (24 karats) gold. There is a Silver Philharmonic coin but production is restricted based on demand. The silver version has a respectable purity rating of 99.9% and only comes in a 1 oz size.
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