4 Rare Coins From the ’90s That Only Coin Collectors Know About
Written by
Andrew Lisa
Edited by
Cory Dudak
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The last decade of the 20th century produced coins that modern numismatic enthusiasts spend three-, four- and even five-figure sums to get their hands on today. The U.S. Mint produced collector coins and error strikes that turned gold coins, silver proofs and even garden-variety pocket change into treasured collectibles.
Here are some of the rarest and most valuable coins from the 1990s.
1990-99 Double-Denomination Coins
Double-denomination coins are among the most coveted curiosities in the numismatic world. As the name implies, this minting error occurs when two denominations are accidentally struck on the same coin.
According to the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), this mistake affected nearly every 20th-century coin series — including those from the 1990s. The most common pairs by far are:
- The Lincoln cent on the Roosevelt dime, known as the 11c (11 cents)
- The Jefferson nickel on Lincoln cent, or 6c
The big two combos are rarities that can be valuable. All others are extremely scarce, with only 25 to 50 known examples for each entire coin series.
One 1990 example from the more common, but still rare, 11c pairing is being auctioned on eBay for $2,400.
1992 Close AM Lincoln Cents
The 1992 Close AM and 1992-D Close AM (the “D” is for Denver) are some of the rarest and most valuable coins from the 1990s. According to the PCGS, the U.S. Mint adjusted the penny’s design slightly in ’92 to enable a higher-quality strike. They were supposed to be released in 1993, and most were — most, but not all.
A handful were accidentally scattered among the more than 4 billion Lincoln pennies the Philadelphia and Denver mints struck in 1992. These highly elusive “transitional” coins can easily fetch four figures, even in worn condition, with pristine examples commanding five figures.
1995-W $1 Silver Eagle Proof
The U.S. Mint launched the American Eagle Coin program in 1986, including a special proof version for collectors. The $1 silver proof has since become an icon, and according to PCGS — which ranks it at No. 13 on its list of the top 100 modern coins — 1995 is the most coveted year of all. That’s because it was the first year to bear the “W” mint mark, indicating its production in the West Point Mint, and because of its low mintage — just 30,125 were ever produced.
In 2013, one sold for $86,655 and another fetched $55,550.
1997-W Jackie Robinson $5 Gold Coin
In 1997, the U.S. Mint authorized the West Point Mint (W) to produce up to 100,000 gold half eagles commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Brooklyn Dodgers’ signing of Jackie Robinson in 1947.
Nowhere near that amount would ever be produced.
According to the Numismatic Guaranty Company, demand for the coin was “shockingly low” despite the enduring popularity of the man who broke the baseball color barrier and paved the way for the integration of professional sports. It performed the worst by far among the several commemorative coins produced that year. That low demand, however, has since turned it into an in-demand collector coin. The PCGS ranked it as the No. 24 best modern coin because only 5,174 were ever minted. Originally selling for $180, they commonly command four-figure sale prices today.
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