United States Eagle (ten dollars), 1844 O

A number of non collectors have asked me "what is the rarest coin in the world?". In fact there are many examples of coins which are unique, such as this Eagle, or ten dollar gold proof coin, minted in 1844 at the New Orleans mint (hence the "O" mintmark below the eagle) in the United States of America. The eagle, half eagle ($5) and double eagle ($20) coins were all circulating coins in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, however in 1844 at the New Orleans mint only a single proof specimen was produced. Perhaps struck as a presentation piece for a visiting dignatory or as some kind of commemorative, the piece has been a part of some of the worlds most famous coin collections, including the Colonel Green and King Farouk of Egypt collections. Purchased by a Florida collector in 2006 for a reported price of $US1.5 million, it is currently on display at the New Orleans mint. An article on this coin can be found here.

India One Rupee 1892

This attractive coin is part of a long series of British Indian coinage which began with the issues of the East India Company in the early nineteenth century. Buyers of these coins need to be aware thet Indian mints kept the dies used to

strike these coins, and in the twentieth century produced restrikes using original dies. The original dies were often rusty and had been "cleaned up" so it is usually possible for the educated collector to tell the difference. The restrikes are also valued by some collectors and sometimes fetch high prices at auction for rare issues.