7 Coins From the 1930s That Are Worth a Lot of Money
Written by
Kerra Bolton
Edited by
Amber Barkley
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Depression-era coins, those minted in the 1930s, are often valued for their historical significance. For example, as the financial crisis rippled through the nation, fewer coins were made at the Denver Mint, which supplied coins to the Midwest, increasing the value of those that were minted among collectors, according to the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC).
Some of the rarest coins are gold coins that were last minted after April 1933, when President Franklin Roosevelt issued an executive order “forbidding the hoarding” of gold coins.
Here are seven coins from the 1930s that are worth a lot of money.
1933 Double Eagle
- Auction Record: $18,872,250 (June 2021)
Designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the 1933 Double Eagle was the last gold $20 coin struck by the U.S. Mint before the nation left the gold standard, according to SD Bullion. The $20 gold coin was struck during the Great Depression.
Although the coin was officially not available to the public and all but two were said to be melted down, the 1933 Double Eagle ended up in the hands of a private collector, although it’s technically illegal to own one.
1933 Indian Head Gold Eagle
- Auction Record: $881,250 (June 2016)
Part of the collection designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the $10 Indian Head Gold Eagle was struck at the U.S. Mint from 1907 to 1916 and occasionally in 1933. It was the last $10 gold coin circulated in 1933, when President Franklin Roosevelt ordered the U.S. Mint to stop making them.
1932-D Washington Quarter
- Auction Record: $143,750 (April 2008)
According to CoinTrackers, only 12% of Washington quarters minted in 1932 came from the Denver mint. Another fun fact: George Washington faced left in the original design. However, it was changed so that the president faced to the right, because people thought the original design made Washington look like he was retreating.
1934 Peace Dollar
- Auction Record: $108,000 (August 2018)
The Peace Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint from 1921 to 1928, 1934 to 1935, and for collectors beginning in 2021. The 1934 edition is considered unique, because that’s when the U.S. Mint began getting silver from world markets to mint more Peace dollars. Less than one million were made, according to CoinTrackers.
1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo Nickel
- Auction Record: $99,875 (October 2021)
David Hall, founder of David Hall Rare Coins, said this nickel was “one of the most famous and most important coins of the 20th century,” as reported by Professional Coin Grading Services (PCGS). The 1937-D Buffalo nickel got its name because it was polished to the point where the front leg was missing. Surprisingly, the coin is scarce in “circulated” condition but less rare in mint condition.
1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar
- Auction Record: $44,400 (September 2020)
The 1938-D Walking Liberty half-dollar series is easier to find in uncirculated than circulated conditions, because the coins were saved by the roll in 1934. Hall said the 1938-D is rarer than the one issued in 1936, but not nearly as rare as earlier years.
1932-D Lincoln (Wheat) Penny
- Auction Record: $25,200 (February 2021)
Jaime Hernandez, an expert in modern coins, said the “1932-D Lincoln Cent is one of the tougher issues from the 1930s,” PCGS reported. Hernandez also said it’s scarce and yet desirable when found with minimal markings and imperfections.
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