This store requires javascript to be enabled for some features to work correctly.

GOLD $00.00 1.20 0.00%
SILVER $00.00 1.20 0.00%
PLAT $00.00 1.20 0.00%
PALL $00.00 1.20 0.00%

Call Us: 800.248.2223 | Live Chat

Free Shipping On Orders Over $199!

  • Gold
    • United States Mint Gold
      • American Gold Eagles
      • Gold Buffalos
    • Royal Canadian Mint Gold
      • Gold Maple Leafs
      • Other Canadian Gold Coins
    • The Royal Mint Gold
      • Gold Britannias
    • The Perth Mint Gold
      • Gold Kangaroos
      • Perth Mint Gold Bars
      • Gold Lunar Series
    • Austrian Mint Gold
      • Gold Philharmonics
    • Other Popular Gold Series
      • South African Gold Krugerrands
    • Gold Bars
      • 1 oz Gold Bars
      • 10 oz Gold Bars
      • Kilo Gold Bars
    • Gold Specials
  • Silver
    • United States Mint Silver
      • American Silver Eagles
      • Certified Silver Eagles
      • Morgan Dollars
      • America the Beautiful
    • Royal Canadian Mint Silver
      • Silver Maple Leafs
    • The Royal Mint Silver
      • Silver Britannias
      • Other Royal Mint Silver Coins
    • The Perth Mint Silver
      • Silver Kangaroos
      • Silver Kookaburras
    • Austrian Mint Silver
      • Silver Philharmonics
    • Silver Rounds and Silver Bars
      • Silver Rounds
      • Silver Bars
    • Silver Bullets
      • 1 oz Silver Bullets
      • 2 oz Silver Bullets
      • 5 oz Silver Bullets
      • 25 oz Silver Bullets
    • Other Popular Series
      • Silver Chinese Pandas
      • South African Silver Krugerrands
      • Silver Mexican Libertads
    • Junk Silver
      • 40% Silver Bags
      • 90% Silver Bags
    • Specials
  • Rare Coins
    • Pre-1933 U.S. Gold Coins
      • $2.50 Indian Gold
      • $3 Gold Princess
      • $5 Liberty Gold
      • $5 Indian Gold
      • $10 Liberty Gold
      • $10 Indian Gold
      • $20 Liberty Gold
      • $20 Saint Gaudens
    • Better Date $10 & $25 American Gold Eagles
    • Mint-State, Common-Date Gold Coins
  • Other
    • Platinum
      • Platinum Coins
      • Platinum Bars
    • Palladium
      • Palladium Bars
  • Gold IRA
  • Programs
    • 20/20 Program
    • Select 4 Strategy
  • Charts
    • $10 American Gold Eagle Charts
    • $25 American Gold Eagle Charts
    • $2.50 Indian Gold Charts
    • $3 Indian Gold Charts
    • $5 Indian Gold Charts
    • $10 Indian Gold Charts
    • $20 Type Two Double Eagle Charts
    • $20 Type Three Double Eagle Charts
    • Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium Live Prices
  • Books & Supplies
    • Books
    • Presentation Boxes
    • Coin Tubes
    • Loupes
  • Resources
    • How to Buy Gold
    • Award Winning Videos
    • Why UCB
    • Metals Market Report
    • Dr. Mike Fuljenz Resume
    • Why Buy Certified
    • News & Articles
    • Sales Tax by State
    • Contact Us
  • Log in
Universal Coin & Bullion
  • Account Login
  • 0
  • Gold
    • United States Mint Gold

      • American Gold Eagles
      • Gold Buffalos
    • Royal Canadian Mint Gold

      • Gold Maple Leafs
      • Other Canadian Gold Coins
    • The Royal Mint Gold

      • Gold Britannias
    • The Perth Mint Gold

      • Gold Kangaroos
      • Perth Mint Gold Bars
      • Gold Lunar Series
    • Austrian Mint Gold

      • Gold Philharmonics
    • Other Popular Gold Series

      • South African Gold Krugerrands
    • Gold Bars

      • 1 oz Gold Bars
      • 10 oz Gold Bars
      • Kilo Gold Bars
    • Gold Specials

  • Silver
    • United States Mint Silver

      • American Silver Eagles
      • Certified Silver Eagles
      • Morgan Dollars
      • America the Beautiful
    • Royal Canadian Mint Silver

      • Silver Maple Leafs
    • The Royal Mint Silver

      • Silver Britannias
      • Other Royal Mint Silver Coins
    • The Perth Mint Silver

      • Silver Kangaroos
      • Silver Kookaburras
    • Austrian Mint Silver

      • Silver Philharmonics
    • Silver Rounds and Silver Bars

      • Silver Rounds
      • Silver Bars
    • Silver Bullets

      • 1 oz Silver Bullets
      • 2 oz Silver Bullets
      • 5 oz Silver Bullets
      • 25 oz Silver Bullets
    • Other Popular Series

      • Silver Chinese Pandas
      • South African Silver Krugerrands
      • Silver Mexican Libertads
    • Junk Silver

      • 40% Silver Bags
      • 90% Silver Bags
    • Specials

  • Rare Coins
    • Pre-1933 U.S. Gold Coins

      • $2.50 Indian Gold
      • $3 Gold Princess
      • $5 Liberty Gold
      • $5 Indian Gold
      • $10 Liberty Gold
      • $10 Indian Gold
      • $20 Liberty Gold
      • $20 Saint Gaudens
    • Better Date $10 & $25 American Gold Eagles

    • Mint-State, Common-Date Gold Coins

  • Other
    • Platinum

      • Platinum Coins
      • Platinum Bars
    • Palladium

      • Palladium Bars
  • Gold IRA
  • Programs
    • 20/20 Program
    • Select 4 Strategy
  • Charts
    • $10 American Gold Eagle Charts

    • $25 American Gold Eagle Charts

    • $2.50 Indian Gold Charts

    • $3 Indian Gold Charts

    • $5 Indian Gold Charts

    • $10 Indian Gold Charts

    • $20 Type Two Double Eagle Charts

    • $20 Type Three Double Eagle Charts

    • Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium Live Prices

  • Books & Supplies
    • Books
    • Presentation Boxes
    • Coin Tubes
    • Loupes
  • Resources
    • How to Buy Gold
    • Award Winning Videos
    • Why UCB
    • Metals Market Report
    • Dr. Mike Fuljenz Resume
    • Why Buy Certified
    • News & Articles
    • Sales Tax by State
    • Contact Us
Universal Coin & Bullion
Search 0 Cart

Ways To Tell If Your Coin Is Rare

1. Check the Coin’s Age and Mintage

Determining whether you have a rare coin requires examining its age, minting details, and collector demand. Coins minted before the 20th century or those with low mintage numbers tend to be more valuable, especially if they are from historical periods. Checking the coin’s date and mintmark against numismatic reference guides can help identify its rarity. If your coin is made of precious metals like gold or silver, it may also have added value. Searching for your coin in online databases or price guides can provide insight into its worth.

2. Look for Minting Errors and Unique Features

Another key factor in identifying a rare coin is the presence of minting errors or unique design variations. Coins with double strikes, misprints, off-center designs, or missing elements are often highly sought after by collectors. Notable examples include the 1955 doubled die penny and the 2000 Sacagawea dollar mule error. Examining your coin under magnification and comparing it to verified images from reputable numismatic websites can help determine if it has a rare error. Using keywords like “rare coin errors” or “valuable coin misprints” when researching online can yield helpful results.

3. Assess the Coin’s Condition and Market Demand

The coin’s condition and market demand also play a significant role in determining its rarity and value. Coins in uncirculated or mint condition are typically more valuable than those with heavy wear. Professional grading services like PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) or NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company) can authenticate and assign a grade to your coin, increasing its credibility among collectors. Checking recent auction sales, coin-collecting forums, and numismatic price guides can help determine if your coin is rare and valuable. To maximize your chances of finding an accurate valuation, search for phrases like “how to value a rare coin” or “coin grading services near me.”

Back ↵

About Us

Universal Coin & Bullion is dedicated to providing clients with outstanding collecting and investment strategies for the rare coin market. Universal Coin & Bullion is a rare coin and gold leader with clients nationwide. Read more!

CUSTOMER CARE
  • My Account
  • Contact Us
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Sell to Us: Coin Inventory
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Customer Disclosures And Agreement To Arbitrate
  • Coin Transaction and Website User Agreement
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Consumer Privacy Rights
  • Careers
  • Universal Cloud Login
EDUCATION
  • Gold Expert Advantage
  • Gold Guide
  • Gold Performance VS Stocks
  • NGC Price & Population Guide
  • Dealer Comparison Guide
  • Our Expert
  • Select Four Strategy
  • Certification of Gold
  • Coin Symbology
  • Mint-State, Common-Date Gold Coins
  • Representatives
  • Sales Tax

100% Customer Service Hotline - Toll Free: 877.899.8380

Call between 8:30 A.M. & 5:00 P.M. CST Monday - Friday.
Phone calls are monitored or recorded.

  • © 2025, Universal Coin & Bullion, Ltd.® All rights reserved
  • ISResources
Texas Telemarketing Registered #2010-0004 • Texas Registered Precious Metal Dealer #0100913 • Beaumont Registered Precious Metal Dealer #2012-04

Universal Coin
Newsletter Signup

Subscribe to the Universal Coin Newsletter to receive the Mike Fuljenz Metals Market Report, new product updates and special offers.

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

{"statementLink":"","footerHtml":"","hideMobile":false,"hideTrigger":false,"disableBgProcess":false,"language":"en","position":"left","leadColor":"#146ff8","triggerColor":"#146ff8","triggerRadius":"50%","triggerPositionX":"left","triggerPositionY":"bottom","triggerIcon":"people","triggerSize":"medium","triggerOffsetX":20,"triggerOffsetY":20,"mobile":{"triggerSize":"small","triggerPositionX":"left","triggerPositionY":"bottom","triggerOffsetX":10,"triggerOffsetY":10,"triggerRadius":"50%"}}