Last Updated: November 13, 2025
Summary
USAGOLD's curated top 25 features rare pre-1933 U.S. gold coins, emphasizing high-grade examples from the Draped Bust, Indian Head, and Saint-Gaudens series. These coins combine numismatic value with intrinsic gold content, ideal for collectors and investors. Total estimated population across grades is low due to historical melting, enhancing scarcity. Average suggested PCGS retail price: $50,000–$1,500,000 per coin (as of November 13, 2025).
Coins listed in descending order (25 to 1, as per image). Each includes obverse/reverse image placeholders, population summary, and PCGS retail price.
25. $10 Draped Bust 1799 PCGS MS63+ CAC Large Stars Obverse
PCGS Retail Price: $110,000
Grade: MS63+ CAC
Population: 5, 43 known better
Notes: Among the first large denomination gold coins minted after the American Revolution. This high grade example is CAC approved. Only 300-400 known are known to exist in all grades today.
24. $20 St. Gaudens 1908-S PCGS MS65+ CAC
PCGS Retail Price: $115,000
Grade: MS65+ CAC ex Half Dome
Population: 1, 21 known better
Notes: The 1908-S is among the most scarce of all St. Gaudens dates, especially in high grade. This example is CAC certified and extant the Half Dome collection, which was the one of finest complete collections of St. Gaudens ever assembled.
23. $20 Liberty 1885 PCGS MS61
PCGS Retail Price: $110,000
Grade: MS61
Population: 4, 5 known better
Notes: An extremely scarce Philadelphia Mint $20 Liberty, only about 100 are known to exist in all grades today. This MS61 example is among the 10 finest known, with the finest just two grade points higher (MS63).
22. $20 St. Gaudens 1907 High Relief Flat Edge PCGS MS66
PCGS Retail Price: $140,000
Grade: MS66
Population: 60, 22 known better
Notes: A classic American gold coin collectible, the High Relief St. Gaudens is widely considered to be the most beautiful American coin ever struck. There is a significant increase in conditional scarcity above MS66, and this example is a nearly flawless representation within the grade.
21. $10 Indian 1930-S PCGS MS64+ CAC
PCGS Retail Price: $110,000
Grade: MS64+ CAC
Population: 13, 25 known better
Notes: A key date to the $10 Indian series, the 1930-S ranks as the fourth rarest date in the series, with high grade examples extremely scarce. This coin is also CAC certified, affirming its beautiful blemish free surfaces and original die characteristics.
20. $1 Seated Dollar Carson City 1873 NGC MS61
NGC Retail Price: $115,000
Grade: MS61
Population: 4, 2 known better
Notes: The only silver coin to make our list, the 1873 CC Seated Dollar is an exquisite American rarity. Minted in the final year of production before the release of the Trade Dollar, just 2300 total were struck, with the majority of those melted before release. It is estimated only 50-60 exist today making it the rarest and most famous Carson City Seated Dollar.
19. $10 Indian 1920-S PCGS MS62
PCGS Retail Price: $135,000
Grade: MS62
Population: 11, 20 known better
Notes: A key $10 Indian date, the 1920-S is the third rarest date in the series. This example is housed in an early generation PCGS holder, attesting to its strength within its grade. An extremely visually pleasing coin considering its numerical grade.
18. $20 St. Gaudens 1924-S PCGS MS65
PCGS Retail Price: $150,000
Grade: MS65
Population: 7, 2 known better
Notes: The 1924-S is a true conditional rarity within the St. Gaudens series. Somewhat common in MS64 and lower (roughly 160 pieces in MS64 & MS64+), there is a massive drop in population for coins graded MS65 and higher, with only 7 examples having achieved the MS65 grade and just two known finer.
17. $10 Indian 1907 Wire Rim PCGS MS65+ CAC
PCGS Retail Price: $150,000
Grade: MS65+ CAC
Population: 10, 32 known better
Notes: The ‘high relief' version of the $10 Indian, only 500 were originally stuck in 1907. Most examples are in high condition as the coin was not introduced for circulation, but given its low total mintage, it remains among the rarest and most valuable coins within the $10 Indian series.
16. $20 Liberty 1886 PCGS AU58
PCGS Retail Price: $185,000
Grade: AU58
Population: 4, 2 known better
Notes: Among the rarest dates in the $20 Liberty series and the only 1886 dated coin option (no coins were minted in any of the branch mints that year), this is a key date for anyone looking to complete date collections of $20 Liberties. Only 40-60 are known to exist in all grades, with the highest-grade example a single MS61.
15. $50 Humbert 880 Thous Reeded Edge 1851 PCGS AU58 CAC
PCGS Retail Price: $190,000
Grade: AU58
Population: 6, 4 known better
Notes: A rare California Gold Rush piece, these 2.5 ounce ’slugs’ are among the most collectible and sought after American coins. The majority of these coins were shipped back to the main mint and Philadelphia and melted to produce circulation gold. Very few survived overall, especially in high grade. This nearly uncirculated example is exquisite, as its CAC certification attests. Among the 10 finest known examples.
14. $20 St. Gaudens 1931-D PCGS MS64+ CAC
PCGS Retail Price: $200,000
Grade: MS64+ CAC
Population: 4, 23 known better
Notes: 1930’s era $20 St. Gaudens are among the rarest and most sought after in the entire series. This Denver mint issue was the last year the St. Gaudens were struck in Denver. A great many were melted down during the gold recall of 1933, leaving only about 100-150 total known to exist today. This example is CAC certified and among the 30 finest known.
13. $10 Draped Bust 1801 MS64
PCGS Retail Price: $200,000
Grade: MS64
Population: 37, 5 known better
Notes: The 1801 is is arguably the most common date in the Draped Bust series in terms of survival rates. But, given that still just 800 or so are known to exist, it conveys a sense of just how rare these early American gold coins are overall. 1801 $10's are accessible in very high grade despite their age. This MS64 example is stunning, and ranks among the finest known with just 5 coins achieving a higher grade.
12. $50 Assay Office 887 1852 PCGS MS61
PCGS Retail Price: $235,000
Grade: MS61
Population: 2, 2 known better
Notes: An extremely rare mint state $50 slug, this Assay Office California Gold Rush piece is almost never encountered in Mint State condition with just two MS61 coins known, and only two known finer. The reverse detail of the woven concentric circles in this example is among the most visible and clearly defined of any piece in existence. Truly one of the finest known examples.
11. $10 Draped Bust 1804 Crosslet 4 PCGS MS61
PCGS Retail Price: $240,000
Grade: MS61
Population: 9, 7 known better
Notes: This final year of issue early $10 holds rank among the great American rarities. Only about 80-100 are known to exist today, and uncirculated specimens especially hard to come by. The ‘Crosslet 4’ is in reference to the '4' in the date which the horizontal line forms a cross at its end. Many coins of this year suffered from adjustment marks (scratches applied by the mint to correct weight discrepancies). This example survived such impairment and is among the most visually appealing examples in existence today.
10. $10 Indian 1913-S PCGS MS65
PCGS Retail Price: $225,000
Grade: MS65
Population: 4, 1 known better
Notes: A next-level conditional rarity, the 1913-S is considered to be the single rarest coin in the entire $10 Indian series in MS65 and higher. They are widely considered to be ‘unobtainable’ in such grade, with the few that do exist held in private collections and virtually never surfacing.
9. $20 St. Gaudens 1930-S NGC MS64
NGC Retail Price: $290,000
Grade: MS64
Population: 5, 8 known better
Notes: A key date to the $20 St. Gaudens series and the rarest among the highly collectible post 1929 dates (save for the 1933). Only about 75 are known to exist. Most did not see circulation, meaning nearly all surviving examples are in MS60 condition or higher. This example is stunning, and housed in an early generation NGC holder, long before the advent of plus grading.
8. $10 Draped Bust 1796 PCGS MS61 ex Bass
PCGS Retail Price: $300,000
Grade: MS61
Population: 1, 1 known better
Notes: Another early American gold coin rarity, 1796 dated $10 Draped Bust coins are among the rarest of the series, with only 125 to 175 known to exist in all grades, making it the second rarest date (rare sub-varieties notwithstanding) to the 1804. This example was held in the famed Harry Bass Jr. collection and carries the associated pedigree, and is among the finest surviving examples.
7. $20 St. Gaudens 1927-S PCGS MS65+
PCGS Retail Price: $350,000
Grade: MS65+
Population: 4, 4 known better
Notes: A conditional rarity among the most significant in the entire St. Gaudens series, this coin is virtually unobtainable in MS65 and higher. Even lower grades still command six figure price tags, making this MS65+ a highly sought after American numismatic. This specimen is exquisite, bearing full original mint luster and die color characteristics unique to the San Francisco mint during this era. Many specimens developed (at times heavy) copper spotting from these dies, but this example is entirely blemish free.
6. $50 Humbert 880 Thous 1851 PCGS AU55 Lettered Edge
PCGS Retail Price: $275,000
Grade: AU55
Population: 12, 23 known better
Notes: The famed Lettered Edge Humbert $50 is the most sought after and collectible of all California Gold Rush slugs. Almost never available in mint state, collectors can only typically hope to acquire attractive AU examples at best. This first year of issue coin underwent an incredibly laborious process to be produced. First was the striking of the coins itself, which was followed with a hand punching of each of the eight edges of the coin, punching '880' into the scroll above the eagle, and finally a '50' in the field left of the 'D'. Given the excessive number of steps to create each coin, 'Lettered Edge' $50’s were only made during the first part of the first year of production, with the process abandoned there forward, making them true American numismatic treasures.
5. $20 St. Gaudens 1921 PCGS MS63
PCGS Retail Price: $375,000
Grade: MS63
Population: 12, 10 known better
Notes: The 1921 $20 St. Gaudens is considered to be the single rarest date in the entire series after the virtually unobtainable 1927-D and 1933 dated coins, which fetch multi-million-dollar price tags. Only about 150 are known to exist, of which more than half are in circulated condition, making it the premier conditional rarity of the series. In MS63 and higher, it is all but impossible to obtain. A six-figure coin in even AU condition, 1921 Saints are an incredibly scarce date in what is arguably the most highly sought after and collectible series, making them one of the highest value rarities in historic American gold coinage, with a seven-figure price tag suggested for the highest grade specimens.
4. $20 St. Gaudens 1907 High Relief Wire Edge PCGS MS67
PCGS Retail Price: $385,000
Grade: MS67
Population: 19, 7 known better
Notes: The High Relief St. Gaudens is widely considered to be the most beautiful American coin ever struck and a coveted and reveared American rarity. This example is exquisite and nearly flawless. Only 19 have achieved the grade MS67 and only 7 better, making this one of the finest High Relief St. Gaudens in existence. It is also housed in an early generation PCGS holder.
3. $10 Draped Bust 1795 PCGS MS62+ ex Bass
PCGS Retail Price: $425,000
Grade: MS62+
Population: 1, 0 known better
Notes: This scarce first year of issue $10 Draped Bust coin represents the early formative years of the United States and embodies unparalleled historical significance. Struck when George Washington was president, this is one of the finest known examples, held in private hands from the day it was released and never a victim of circulation. Roughly 500 coins are known to exist in all grades today, and this 62+ is the finest known for its die variety, and in the top 20 overall for the date. It was held in the Harry W Bass Jr. collection, which is considered among the best pedigree legacies in the numismatic market.
2. $10 Indian 1907 Rolled Edge PCGS MS65+ CAC
PCGS Retail Price: $700,000
Grade: MS65+ CAC
Population: 1, 21 known better
Notes: The 1907 Rolled Edge $10 Indian was struck with the intention to be used for circulation, though nearly all were melted before being released to the public. It is estimated only 40 or so examples exist today, making it one of the rarest historic American coins. Nearly all examples are in a high state of preservation, as they were kept in private collections from the time they were minted. Thus, any conditional rarity of these pieces is somewhat ancillary (the bulk of the existing population are all MS65) with absolute rarity the governing value characteristic. One would be hard pressed to obtain a Rolled Edge $10 Indian in any grade for less than about $400,000. This example is extremely attractive, and the only MS65+ coin graded by PCGS. It has also been CAC certified.
1. $10 Indian 1933 PCGS MS65+ CAC ex Simpson
PCGS Retail Price: $1,500,000
Grade: MS65+ CAC
Population: 3, 2 known better
Notes: One of the greatest American gold rarities, virtually all 1933 $10 Indian gold coins were destroyed when Roosevelt issued the executive order for Americans to turn over their gold that year. Only about 30 are known to exist, making it the rarest of the $10 Indian series. This is an exquisite example, and believed to be the second finest known, joining a population of 3 in MS65+ (though the only CAC certified among those), with 2 known better according the PCGS Population report (though it is assumed the lone 66 was later upgraded to a 66+). This coin was the centerpiece of the famed Simpson collection, which to this day is the finest known complete $10 Indian collection ever assembled.
