6 Rare Coins Expected To Soar in Value By the End of the Decade
Written by
Vance Cariaga
Edited by
Amber Barkley
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One of the great things about investing in rare coins is that they almost always go up in value. When something is rare it stays rare — no matter the year or economy. That rarity pretty much guarantees it will continue to rise in price, as long as people continue to be willing to pay.
If you’re interested in collectible coins — and have a decent amount of money to spend — here are six rare coins that should soar in value by the end of the decade.
1976-S Bicentennial Silver Quarter
- Typical price range for high grades: $2,000 to $10,000
With America’s 250th anniversary coming in 2026, you can expect to see renewed interest in the bicentennial quarters that were issued in 1976 for the 200th birthday. The most valuable of these coins was a 1976-S Bicentennial Silver Quarter with a very high grade that sold for $19,200.
The value in these coins comes from their 40% silver content. Most bicentennial quarters were composed of multiple metals such as nickel, copper and zinc.
1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny
- Typical price range for high grades: $700 to $14,000
This is a prized coin among collectors that should continue to fetch ever-higher prices during the coming years. The “VDB” stands for Victor David Brenner, the artist who designed the Lincoln cent. It was introduced in 1909 to mark the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, according to Gainesville Coins.
Of the roughly 28 million 1909 VDB Lincoln Wheat pennies produced, fewer than 60,000 are believed to be around now. The highest sales price for this coin was in the six figures, but that was a very rare specimen in mint condition.
1983 Lincoln Penny On Bronze Planchet
- Typical price range for high grades: Up to $26,000
Here’s a case of an error leading to a very high value. Most pennies minted since mid-1982 are struck on planchets made up of a solid zinc core with only a trace of copper. But in 1983, some were mistakenly struck on a bronze planchet left over from 1982 or earlier. Only those with extremely high grades will fetch the highest prices, but you can still get thousands of dollars for those in slightly less pristine condition.
As with most error coins, this one is expected to keep rising in value in coming years.
1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo Nickel
- Typical price range for high grades: $39,000 to $100,000
Here’s another famous coin with an iconic image that is prized by collectors. Because of “some overzealous polishing” on a damaged reverse die at the Denver Mint, the right front leg of the bison in this specimen is completely removed from the surface of the die, according to Gainesville Coins.
1943 Lincoln Cent on Bronze Planchet
- Typical price range for high grades: $370,000 to $1 million and higher
Gainesville Coins refers to this cent as “one of the most famous error coins of all time” that will “create excitement whenever they appear at auction.” You can expect that to continue for the rest of the decade.
Similar to the 1983 penny, the reason these 1943 pennies are rare — and valuable — is that they were mistakenly struck on bronze planchets. Bronze is a copper-based alloy — and because copper was sorely needed for the war effort, most pennies then were made of zinc-coated steel.
1893-S Morgan Dollar
- Typical price range for high grades: $2,250 to $2 million or more
If you prefer dollars to pennies — or nickels, or quarters — this is a rare coin that always goes up in price. One reason for its high value is that it is the lowest-minted coin among all the Morgan dollars struck between 1878 and 1921, according the West Alabama Watchman. It was also produced during an era of “great demand” for silver, which collectors also prize.
Editor’s note: Unless otherwise stated, coin data was sourced from Gainesville Coins and is accurate as of Dec. 18, 2024.
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