The Top 4 Rare Coins of 2023

As 2022 draws to a close, collectors are eager to know what they can expect in the coming year on the numismatic front, including especially what will be the top rare coins of 2023 in terms of United States Mint releases.

Silver and Gold Eagles

The first major releases of the year are traditionally the latest edition of American Silver Eagle and American Gold Eagle bullion coins, which usually occurs sometime in January.

Demand for these coins has been very high in the past year, and as a result of the shortage of available silver planchets needed to strike Silver Eagles, production of those coins, especially in the final months of 22, lagged well behind the demand for the coins.

Through November, the U.S. Mint produced and sold 15,904,500 Silver Eagles compared to about 27 million during the same period in 2021 due to the planchet shortage. By now production at the West Point Mint has shifted to the 2023 coins.

Next year the Mint needs to find a solution to the planchet problem such as by finding another company that can provide enough planchets that meet their high quality and purity requirements..

That situation has continued to push secondary market premiums up on these popular coins. With spot silver running about $23 per ounce, the gap between supply in the market and demand for these coins has resulted in retails prices in the $40 and above range.

Dealers are currently offering presales of the 2023 coins, including examples that are graded. And those include coins graded under the new grading scale at NGC called NGCX. Under this new system, modern coins issued since 1982 are graded on a 10-point scale with 10 being the equivalent of MS/PF70 and 9 being the same as MS/PF69.

On February 28, the first 2023 collector version of Silver Eagles will be released – the 2023-W Proof coins. Those coins will also be sold in the 2023 Congratulations Set.

In the spring, Proof versions of the 2023 American Gold Eagle will be offered as well as the 2023-W Burnished Uncirculated version of the 2023 American Silver Eagle.

American Women Quarters

The second year of the American Women Quarter series also debuts then. First up will be the coins for Besse Coleman, trailblazing pilot, followed by those for Edith Kanaka’ole, a Hawaiian teacher, dancer and chanter. It remains to be seen if the second year of this series is as much of a success as the 2022 quarters were.

Because the Mint underestimated demand for the coins, production especially of the “S”-Mint coins was limited, and those coins mostly sold out in advance of their release through the enrollment system. This meant that only about 6,000 of each issue was sold in two-roll sets of coins struck at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints, while about 7,500 were sold in the three-rolls sets that also include the coins struck at San Francisco.

The Mint has indicated that it could not ramp up production of these coins for 2022 but plans to do so for 2023. However, we do not yet know to what extent that will be done, and how that will impact the market for the S-Mint coins in particular.

Throughout 2022 buyers have been paying big premiums for those coins because of their low mintages and the difficulty obtaining them from the Mint. 

The summer will see the launch of the coins for Eleanor Roosevelt, former first lady to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and outspoken human rights advocate and writer. These coins should prove popular will the public.

They will be followed by quarters for Jovita Idar, a Mexican-American journalist and suffragist, and Maria Tallchief, a famous ballet dancer.

In the summer all-new $100 high-relief Proof gold coins and accompanying silver medals in the American Liberty series will be issued sporting a one-year only design that depicts the theme of Liberty in a modern way and not as an allegorical female.

Morgan and Peace Dollars

In the fall, collectors will eagerly await the release of what is expected to the be the hottest release of 2023 – the second year of new Morgan and Peace dollars, which will include uncirculated versions of each design to be struck at the Philadelphia Mint and limited to 275,000 coins; the first-ever Proof versions struck in the modern era at the San Francisco Mint that will have mintage limits of 400,000 each; and a special two-coin Reverse Proof set to be struck at the West Point Mint that will be limited to 250,000.

The Mint originally expected to release 2022-dated Morgan and Peace dollars but had to postpone resumption of this program until 2023 due to the silver planchet shortage and the need to prioritize production of bullion Silver Eagles.

Expect the 2023 coins to be very popular, especially with the release of coins with finishes that were not used on the 2021 coins, which have maintained a strong secondary market premium.

In addition, 2023 will be the first year no commemorative coins are issued since 1982 when the modern commemorative program began. With no commemorative coins for the year, expect interest in other programs, especially the silver dollars to be high.

American Palladium Eagles

The fall is also when the 2023-W American Platinum Eagle uncirculated coin will be issued. Begun in 2017, this program has included five prior collector coins and two bullion coins. The legislation that created the program requires the finish used each year to be different from that on the prior year’s coins. After issuing Proof, Reverse Proof and Uncirculated finish coins, the Mint began the cycle again.

The spot price of palladium continues to hover in the $2,000 per ounce range, which makes the U.S, Mint coins rather expensive collectibles once the Mint’s premium is added to the coins. The 2022-W Reverse Proof coins, which is still available from the Mint, is priced currently at $2,800.

How does the new grading scale at NGC called NGCX compare to the traditional grading systems?

The new grading scale at NGC called NGCX represents a significant shift from the traditional 70-point Sheldon Scale commonly used to grade coins. In the NGCX system, coins are graded on a simplified 10-point scale, where a grade of 10 corresponds to what would traditionally be considered MS/PF70, representing a perfect coin without any post-production imperfections visible under 5x magnification. A grade of 9 is equivalent to MS/PF69, indicating a coin with nearly imperceptible flaws. This streamlined approach aims to make the grading process more accessible and understandable for modern coin collectors, though it may initially cause some confusion as collectors adjust from the more granular traditional system.

What specific design features will the new $100 high-relief Proof gold coins and accompanying silver medals in the American Liberty series have?

Regarding the design features of the new $100 high-relief Proof gold coins and accompanying silver medals in the American Liberty series, these coins are set to feature modern interpretations of Liberty. This approach moves away from traditional allegorical representations to a more contemporary and possibly abstract artistic vision. The specific design details, such as the depiction of Liberty and the artistic elements involved, are typically chosen to resonate with current cultural and aesthetic trends, emphasizing diversity and modernity. These designs are selected through a competitive process involving artists from the U.S. Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program, who propose designs that are then reviewed and approved by various committees and ultimately the Secretary of the Treasury.

Will there be any special packaging or presentation options for the 2023 collector coins, especially the new Morgan and Peace dollars?

As for special packaging or presentation options for the 2023 collector coins, particularly the Morgan and Peace dollars, such offerings are common for high-profile releases. The U.S. Mint often releases limited edition sets or special presentation cases that appeal to collectors not only for the coins themselves but also for their display and long-term preservation qualities. These packages can include informative booklets, certificates of authenticity, and custom-designed cases that highlight the significance of the coin’s design and its place within the collection. For significant releases like the Morgan and Peace dollars, which have a storied history and a strong following among collectors, the Mint typically invests in creating attractive packaging that enhances the appeal and perceived value of these collector items.