7 Coins From the 1930s That Are Worth a Lot of Money

For coin fans, the 1930s are a memorable time because of the tough economy and important historical events that happened during that time. A lot of coins made during this time are now very expensive because they are hard to find, have unique designs, or have historical value. Many coins from this time are very valuable to coin collectors, such as the well-known 1933 Double Eagle and the one-of-a-kind 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo Nickel.

Whether you’ve collected coins before or this is your first time, these 1930s coins are more than just money; they’re real pieces of history. This blog post will talk about seven of the most expensive and sought-after coins from the 1930s. We’ll explain in detail what these coins mean and why they’re worth so much money now.

1. 1933 Double Eagle

One of the most well-known and expensive coins in U.S. history is the 1933 Double Eagle. This gold coin was made in 1933 and has a beautiful design by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The front of the coin has Lady Liberty holding a torch and an olive branch, and the back has a beautiful eagle flying. Due to the Gold Reserve Act of 1934, which said that people couldn’t own gold coins privately, the U.S. government chose to return most of the 1933 Double Eagles before they could be used.

It was thought that there were no valid pieces left because most of the coins had been melted down. However, some were found in the hands of fans. In 2002, one was auctioned off and sold for a record-breaking $7.6 million, making it one of the most valuable coins ever. This coin is very rare and has an interesting past, which makes it very valuable. The few copies that are still available are selling for crazy amounts of money today.

2. 1933 Indian Head Gold Eagle

Another coin that people who collect coins really want is the 1933 Indian Head Gold Eagle. The famous artist Bela Lyon Pratt made the coin, which has a unique incuse design, which means the pictures are sunk into the coin instead of being raised. There were other gold coins at the time that didn’t look like this one. The Indian Head Gold Eagle was made from 1907 to 1933. The 1933 form is the rarest and most expensive because of its historical value.

This coin was one of the last ones made before the US stopped using gold as its measure of value. Some 1933 Indian Head Gold Eagles were made, but most were never sold to the public, just like most 1933 Double Eagles. The surviving specimens have been the subject of lawsuits and have sold at auction for very high prices. In recent years, one specimen sold for over $2 million. This coin is an important part of American coinage history because it is very rare and has a link to the end of the gold standard.

3. 1932-D Washington Quarter

One of the most important numbers in the Washington Quarter line is the 1932-D. It was the first year that the Washington Quarter was made available, and the 1932-D is especially interesting because there were so few of them made. It was made at the Denver Mint, as shown by the “D” mintmark. Only 436,800 of these coins were made, making it one of the rarest quarters from the early 1900s.

The design was made by John Flanagan. It has an eagle on the back and a picture of George Washington on the front. The 1932-D Washington Quarter can fetch thousands of dollars, based on its state, because they are hard to find and collectors want them. Even lower classes of coins, like MS-65 or lower, are still very valuable. For people who collect Washington Quarters, the 1932-D quarter is one of the most important coins. It is still sought after by people who are serious about collecting U.S. coins.

4. 1934 Peace Dollar

The 1934 Peace Dollar is one of the most sought-after coins of the Peace Dollar series, which ran from 1921 to 1935. Anthony de Francisci designed the Peace Dollar to honor the end of World War I. Its design, which shows Lady Liberty on the front and an eagle sitting on its back, represents peace. With over 1.1 million coins made, the 1934 form is important because it has a relatively high mintage compared to other years in the line.

Although a lot of them were made, the 1934 Peace Dollar is still a rare coin, especially if it is in very good shape. Over time, fans became more interested in the coin as they learned more about its history and beautiful design. It can be worth anywhere from a few hundred dollars for used coins to several thousand dollars for coins that have never been used. People who collect coins love the 1934 Peace Dollar because of what it stands for and how well it’s made. It should be an important part of any collection.

5. 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo Nickel

One of the most well-known and interesting mistakes in U.S. coin history is the 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo Nickel. This coin is from the Buffalo Nickel series, which was made from 1913 to 1938. It has a famous image by James Earle Fraser of an American bison on the back and a Native American on the front. The “three-legged” mistake happened at the Denver Mint in 1937, when a buffalo’s leg was worn off by accident while the die was being made.

Because of this, it looked like the bison only had three legs instead of four. The 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo Nickel became one of the most famous coin mistakes in U.S. history, even though it wasn’t done on purpose. There are only a few known examples of this error. Collectors are very interested in this coin, and a good example can sell for well over a thousand dollars. A perfect example can sell for even more. The 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo Nickel is one of the most expensive coins from the 1930s because it is so rare and has a unique flaw.

6. 1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar

The 1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar is a beautiful example of an American coin from the 20th century. The Walking Liberty Half Dollar was designed by Adolph A. Weinman. It has a beautiful full-length picture of Lady Liberty walking toward the sun on the front and an eagle standing on a rock with the rising sun in the sky on the back. The Denver Mint made the 1938-D version, which stands out because it has a relatively low mintage compared to other years in the line. Only about 491,600 coins were made.

Fans of coins want to get their hands on the 1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar because of this. People really like the design of the coin because it’s both beautiful and symbolic of freedom and the American spirit. The Walking Liberty design was taken off of coins in 1947, so the 1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar is one of the last coins with this design. Because they are hard to find and have a classic look, their value keeps going up. Higher-quality coins often sell for several hundred dollars.

7. 1932-D Lincoln (Wheat) Penny

The 1932-D Lincoln (Wheat) Penny is one of the most expensive and important coins in the Lincoln Wheat series. These coins were made from 1909 to 1958. There were only a little more than 10 million of the 1932-D pennies made, which makes it one of the rarest coins in the series. Victor D. Brenner painted a picture of Abraham Lincoln on the front, and two wheat stalks are shown on the back. This coin was made at the Denver Mint because it has a “D” mintmark on it.

The 1932-D Lincoln Penny is not as rare as some other important numbers in the Lincoln series, but fans still put a lot of value on it because it is so rare and important to history. This penny can sell for hundreds of dollars if it is in better grades, like MS-65 or better. People who are interested in U.S. coins will want this piece because it is hard to find and has a link to the Great Depression. The 1932-D Lincoln Penny is still one of the most sought-after Lincoln Wheat coins.

Bottom Line

In the world of numismatics, the 1930s created a number of famous and hard-to-find coins that are now very valuable. Collectors still want these coins, like the 1933 Double Eagle and the 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo Nickel, because they are hard to find, have historical value, and have unique shapes. If you want to buy rare coins as an investment, don’t forget about the 1930s. Before you buy anything, you should always do a lot of studying and talk to a professional to make sure you’re getting the best value for your money.

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