Pieces Of Hate Quick Guide

The 15 Most Valuable Old U.S. Currency Pieces

CC0/Olichel/Pixabay

From paper bills featuring former New York governors to Proof coins created in limited quantities, U.S. mint records offers a unique look into American history. Take a look at 15 of the most valuable old U.S. currency pieces.

DeWitt Clinton "Rainbow" Note

The $1,000 "Rainbow" note from 1869 features a portrait of DeWitt Clinton, who oversaw construction of the Erie Canal when he was governor of New York. This bill was last auctioned in 1946.

CC BY-SA 2.0/Dougtone/Flickr

John Quincy Adams "Rainbow" Note

This $500 version of the Rainbow note collection features an allegorical figure of justice on the left side and President John Quincy Adams on the right side. Only three of these bills are known to exist today.

CC0/geralt/Pixabay

Marcy Note

The famous "Marcy Note" from 1891 is a $1,000 bill featuring a portrait of New York Gov. William Marcy. It's believed to be the only one of its kind in private hands and was estimated to go for between $2 million and $3 million at a recent auction.

CC BY 2.0/The.Currency/Flickr

1834 Proof Capped Bust Quarter

Only 10 Proof quarters were made to order in 1834 for coin collectors who wanted to add one. Today a single one is worth $329,000.

CC BY 2.0/Mark Morgan Trinidad/Flickr

1841 Proof Liberty Seated Quarter

In 1838, the U.S. Mint first produced the first Liberty quarter, designed by Christian Gobrecht. This proof coin has obtained a gorgeous metallic blue color over the years.

CC BY 2.0/Mark Morgan Trinidad/Flickr

1804 Draped Bust Quarter

In 1804, the U.S. Mint began producing quarters at a very small mintage after a 10-year hiatus. Experts say that fewer than 200 original mintage coins exist of the 6,738 coins produced that year.

CC BY 2.0/Sh4rp_i/Flickr

1871-CC Liberty Seated Quarter

The U.S. Mint opened its Carson City branch in 1870 to turn the silver surplus on the West Coast into U.S. currency. This quarter came from a mintage of only 8,430 coins, so it's extremely rare and valuable.

CC0/Clker-Free-Vector-Images/Pixabay

1850 Proof Liberty Seated Quarter

The 1850 Proof Liberty Seated Quarter was one of only three Proof quarters minted that year. The Liberty Seated Quarter series is very popular among collectors.

CC BY 2.0/Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions+ views)/Flickr

1901-S Barber Quarter

Superior Galleries sold the 1901-S Barber Quarter for a record-setting $550,000 in May 1990. Rare and beautiful, this certified coin would go for even more today.

CC BY-SA 2.0/Jeffrey Beall/Flickr

1796 Draped Bust Quarter

The U.S. Mint first began producing quarters in 1796; fewer than 700 of the first U.S. quarter exist today. Mint workers operated the coin presses by hand, so striking pressure varied from coin to coin.

CC0/gepharts3d/Pixabay

Liberty Seated Dime

From 1837 until 1891, the U.S. Mint produced Liberty Seated dimes. The dime's obverse and reverse were designed by Christian Gobrecht.

CC BY 2.0/Eric Fisher/Flickr

1975 No S Proof Roosevelt Dime

The U.S. Mint only produced Proof coins in San Francisco in 1975, and all but two of coins have an S on them. Experts believe mint workers accidentally prepared the die without the S and pressed two Proof dimes before catching their mistake.

CC BY-SA 2.0/Franco Folini/Flickr

1800 Draped Bust Dime

U.S. mints produced only 21,760 dimes in 1800. Experts estimate that fewer than 100 from 1800 exist today.

CC BY-SA 2.0/Darron Birgenheier/Flickr

1822 Proof Capped Bust Dime

John Reich designed the Capped Bust dimes produced by the U.S. Mint from 1809 to 1837. Proof coins have all the features of a full and complete strike.

CC BY 2.0/Mark Morgan Trinidad/Flickr

1894-S Barber Dime

The U.S. Mint in San Francisco produced 24 Proof dimes in 1894. Today, experts are aware of the existence of only 13 of them.

CC0/_Alicja_/Pixabay