United States Coins — Complete Guide to Every Denomination
Half Cents to Gold Eagles • 230+ Years of American Coinage
Denomination Overview
Values shown are broad approximate ranges for common-date circulated examples within each denomination. See each dedicated guide for complete date-by-date values and key dates.
| Denomination | Years | Notable Rarity | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half Cent | 1793–1857 | 1796 No Pole — $763,750+ | View Guide → |
| Large Cent | 1793–1857 | 1793 Chain Cent — $1.5M+ | View Guide → |
| Small Cent | 1856–present | 1909-S VDB — $800–$3,000+ | View Guide → |
| Two Cent Piece | 1864–1873 | 1864 Small Motto — $4,100+ | View Guide → |
| Three Cent (Silver & Nickel) | 1851–1889 | 1851-O Trime — $2,000+ | View Guide → |
| Nickel (5¢) | 1866–present | 1913 Liberty Head — $5M+ | View Guide → |
| Half Dime | 1792–1873 | 1870-S — $3.12M (unique) | View Guide → |
| Dime | 1796–present | 1873-CC No Arrows — $3.6M (unique) | View Guide → |
| Twenty Cent Piece | 1875–1878 | 1876-CC — $300,000+ | View Guide → |
| Quarter | 1796–present | 1823/2 Overdate — $250,000+ | View Guide → |
| Half Dollar | 1794–present | 1797 — $1.68M | View Guide → |
| Dollar | 1794–present | 1804 Dollar — Multi-Million | View Guide → |
Cents — America's Everyday Coin
The one-cent denomination has been struck continuously since 1793, evolving through three distinct eras defined by size and composition. Large Cents (1793–1857) were struck in a large-format copper planchet before giving way to the smaller Small Cent format still used today — Flying Eagle, Indian Head, and finally the Lincoln Cent, home to the legendary 1909-S VDB. The even smaller Half Cent (1793–1857) ran in parallel, representing the smallest face-value denomination the U.S. Mint has ever produced.
Half Cents
Large Cents
Small Cents
Full Coin Price Guide
Five Cent & Odd Denominations
Beyond the familiar dime-quarter-dollar lineup, American coinage includes several short-lived or unusually structured denominations, each with a genuinely interesting story — from the Two Cent Piece's role introducing "In God We Trust" to the tiny Three Cent Silver piece, the smallest coin ever struck by the U.S. Mint.
Nickels (5¢)
Two Cent Pieces
Three Cent Coins
Half Dimes
Dimes, Quarters & the Twenty Cent Experiment
The dime and quarter are two of the most consistently collected denominations in American numismatics, each spanning multiple major design eras from Draped Bust through modern clad coinage. Sitting between them, briefly, was the ill-fated Twenty Cent Piece — struck for just four years before public confusion with the similarly sized quarter led to its discontinuation.
Dimes
Quarters
Twenty Cent Piece
Full Coin Price Guide
Half Dollars & Dollars
America's larger silver denominations carry some of the most significant rarities in all of U.S. numismatics — from the 1804 Dollar, the legendary "King of American Coins," to the 1797 Half Dollar's record-setting $1.68 million sale. Both denominations span the full arc of American coin design, from Flowing Hair and Draped Bust through Seated Liberty, Barber, and the 20th century's artistic renaissance.
Half Dollars
Dollars
Silver Melt Calculator
Full Coin Price Guide
Where to Buy US Coins
eBay — All US Coins
eBay — Key Dates & Rarities
JM Bullion
Kitco
Money Metals Exchange
SD Bullion
Silver Gold Bull
FRC Coin Price Guide
Find US Coins on eBayMoney Back Guarantee
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most valuable U.S. coin ever sold?
The 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle gold coin holds the record, selling for $18.9 million in 2021. Among the denominations covered on this site, the 1804 Dollar ("The King of American Coins") and the unique 1873-CC No Arrows Dime ($3.6 million) rank among the most valuable coins in American history.
What is the oldest U.S. coin denomination?
The Half Dime holds this distinction — a small number of 1792 "half disme" patterns were struck at President Washington's direct order before the U.S. Mint's own building was even completed, making it the first coin struck under the authority of the newly established Mint.
How can I tell if my old coin is silver?
The rule varies by denomination but generally follows a consistent pattern: dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars dated 1964 or earlier are typically 90% silver, while coins dated 1965 or later are usually silver-free clad composition. Nickels are the exception — they're never silver except for the 1942–1945 wartime "War Nickel" issue. Check each denomination's dedicated guide above for exact composition changes and dates.
Which U.S. coins are known for having only one or a handful of surviving examples?
Several coins on this site are genuinely unique or near-unique: the 1870-S Half Dime and 1873-CC No Arrows Dime are each known by a single surviving example, while the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel exists in only five examples and the 1804 Dollar in fewer than 20. These represent the absolute pinnacle of American coin rarity.
What is a good starting point for collecting U.S. coins?
Most collectors start with a denomination that interests them personally and build a type set — one representative example of each major design within that denomination — before specializing further into key dates and varieties. The Lincoln Wheat Cent and common-date Washington Quarters are especially popular entry points given their affordability and availability, while common-date pre-1965 silver coins offer a straightforward way to combine numismatic interest with genuine silver content.
Should I get my coins professionally graded?
For anything beyond common, low-value coins, PCGS or NGC certification is strongly recommended — both for authentication and for the standardized grade, which protects buyers and preserves resale value. This becomes essential, not optional, for any coin claiming to be a genuine key date or rarity, given how frequently these are targeted by counterfeiters.
With over 400 high-resolution images and detailed explanations, you'll learn to spot rare and valuable coins still found in U.S. circulation today.
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