Do you know the story of the programmer who paid for 2 pizzas with 10,000 bitcoins? Well, something similar -saving distances- happens every day in the streets of your town. Maybe it’s at the bakery, at a parking meter or leaving a tip at a restaurant, but we use euro coins and cents that are worth more than what it says on the back.
There are not many, but the free circulation, the ignorance of many people and chance can make you have had or have some of them in your pocket. In this article you will discover which are the most valuable euro coins and euro cents and why collectors can pay so much money for them.
A little background: Why are euro coins so valuable?
Money, as we knew it, is disappearing. Today, only 1% of money exists in physical form. On the other hand, we have all heard of ancient or commemorative coins being sold for fortunes, which we can justify because of the scarcity and history behind them. But how can it be that a coin in circulation and totally common can multiply its value exponentially?
The truth is that each country mints its own designs, which vary over time. This makes the euro, in general, a coin with a high value for numismatists. However, most countries issue a large quantity of each, making them easy to obtain and therefore of little value.
But there are two exceptions. The first is directly related to smaller countries. These, having a smaller population, generate a much smaller quantity of coins, making them much rarer to find and therefore much more valuable.
The second exception has to do with editing errors. Sometimes, when manufactured, some series have a small defect or engraving that should not be there and that is usually corrected quickly. The rarity of these pieces, even being issued by large countries, makes them cost more than the indicated face value.
The 8 most valuable euro coins you may come across
Now that we know the reasons why a euro coin can be worth more than it says, it is time to know which are the most sought after and learn how to differentiate them. The truth is that there are several of each type, so in this article we will focus on reviewing the most valuable of each amount: 2 and 1 euro, as well as those of 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 euro cents.
The 1 cent coin that can be worth thousands of euros
Small, but big. This is how one could define the surprising German one cent coin from 2002 designed by architect Rolf Lederbogen, for which more than 50,000 euros have been paid.
Its reverse shows the design of a young oak tree surrounded by the stars of the European flag, but it is not this image that makes it so special. The rarity of this piece lies in its material, since in some units they used a different metal than the one normally used to make these coins. This detail gives it a special shine compared to any other cent, although beware: the use could have made them lose some luster and quite a lot of value.
Grace Kelly on the 2007 €2 coin: another of the crown jewels
In the second half of 2007, Monaco issued a commemorative coin in honor of the 25th anniversary of the death of the famous local actress and princess: Grace Kelly. The mintage of these coins was short, reaching only up to 20,001 units. However, the worldwide icon that was the actress joined the most diehard collectors, so it is difficult to see this coin in circulation today.
Its current value can reach 2,600 euros and, in case you come across one, remember that for it to be authentic it must have inscribed on the edge a repetition of “2” and “*” that add up to six 2’s and twelve *.
The Cervantes 20 cents, the first Spanish coin in the ranking
20 euro cents in Spain are not worth much, unless they are one of those minted in 1999. This first -and mythical- issue had an image of the face of Miguel de Cervantes with his pen signing on the back, although with a small error: the relief is made with a little more metal than it should be.
This small mistake (and we say small because it is very difficult to detect) was quickly solved, which has meant that today these 10 cent coins can reach a value of up to 1,500 euros at certain auctions.
Belgian coins, the most valuable 50 euro cents
The first issues of many countries hold surprises in the form of valuable coins. In the case of the 50 cent coin, it is the one minted in Belgium in 1999 and on which we see the profile of King Albert II on the reverse.
This is another of those cases in which the excess of metal when minting the coins has made them more valuable over time. Here, this error means that the stars surrounding the king are irregular with respect to each other and that their value can go up to 1,000 euros.
The “strange” German 10 cent coin that is worth much more than it looks like
It may even look fake, but therein lies its exorbitant price. The 10 cent coin minted in Germany in 2002 again bases its uniqueness on the excess copper that was used to create it. This slightly alters its color and design, which appears slightly pixelated. But it doesn’t end there…
The edges of this valuable coin are jagged and no, this is not an overuse, but another printing error. All this caused the series to be quickly withdrawn, so there are not many specimens in circulation. However, if you come across one of them, do not discard it because of its ugliness, as it could be worth up to 900 euros.
Marianne, the first French 5-cent coin
The first euro coins in history were issued in 1999, as was one of the most valuable…especially when compared to its face value. This is the 5 cent coin issued in France in 1999. On it we see the face of Marianne, a national icon. In the first issues this image appears slightly deformed, a fact that they soon corrected. However, this small error and the age of the coin mean that the few units in circulation can be worth more than 800€, as long as their state of preservation is good.
The 1€ coin issued by Monaco in 2007: a surprising euro
This coin, very similar to some of the most common in Spain and other countries, is characterized by the profile of a royal figure such as Prince Albert II. And why is it so valuable? First, because its issuing country, Monaco, is small and therefore does not generate a large volume of units. And, second, because some of these coins have a strange editing error. When minted, the first 2,000 coins did not have the side slits, making them look completely smooth.
This coin, with this editing error and in a good state of preservation, can be worth more than 400 euros in specialized websites.
An excellent game to educate children on the value of money.
Searching for and finding these valuable coins can become an exciting challenge if we involve our children. Knowing each one of them, knowing how to differentiate them and saving those that may have value is an excellent way to instill values such as attention, the value of money and saving. Besides, the prize will always be greater if we find one of them.
The first thing to check is that it really is what it seems, the similarity between many editions (and the corrections that are being made on them) can play a trick on you. In this regard, on the Internet you will find detailed information on the characteristics of each coin, for example, on the website of the European Central Bank or, if you prefer a more personal treatment, you can go to an expert to help you identify it.
If you really have one in your possession it is time to decide: sell it or keep it. If you prefer the money offered for it, the clear choice is to sell it. However, if there is one good thing about old coins is that, since there are no more units, they will gradually increase in value over time. So if you are not in a hurry, the best thing to do is to keep it in a safe place to sell it in the future for an even higher amount.
Do you want the money now? For this you have different portals where you can put your coin for sale safely. Some examples are Catawiki, Foronum, Etsy and even eBay, Wallapop and MilAnuncios.
An excellent game to educate children on the value of money.
Searching for and finding these valuable coins can become an exciting challenge if we involve our children. Knowing each one of them, knowing how to differentiate them and saving those that may have value is an excellent way to instill values such as attention, the value of money and saving. Besides, the prize will always be greater if we find one of them.