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The World’s Most Expensive Coin
Coin collectors are always on the hunt for treasures that combine history, rarity, and value. Among all rare coins, none capture the imagination quite like the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle – widely regarded as the most expensive coin in the world.
A Record-Breaking Auction for the most expensive coin in the world
On June 8, 2021, Sotheby’s auction house sold the 1933 Double Eagle for an incredible $18,872,250 (approx. £13.5 million), setting the record for the highest price ever paid for a coin. To put that in perspective, the same coin fetched $7.59 million (approx. £5.4 million) back in 2002 – proving how highly collectors prize it.
Want to see the story come alive? Don’t miss our exclusive video all about the 1933 Double Eagle (Play Below)
Why Is the 1933 Double Eagle So Valuable?
Collectors search for this coin not just because it’s rare, but because its story is one of intrigue and historical significance:
- Minted but Melted: 445,500 Double Eagles were struck in 1933, but nearly all were melted down when President Franklin D. Roosevelt ended the gold standard.
- Not Meant for Circulation: The U.S. Treasury never officially released them, which makes any surviving example extraordinarily rare.
- The King Farouk Connection: One coin was legally exported to Egypt’s King Farouk, fueling decades of legal battles and intrigue.
- The Only Legal Example: Today, just one coin is privately owned – the same one that set the world record.
For coin enthusiasts, the most expensive coin in the world holds the ultimate blend of rarity, beauty, and backstory.
Other Coins Worth Millions
Although the Double Eagle holds the crown, these coins also draw global attention:
- 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar – Sold for about $12 million (approx. £8.6 million), believed to be the first U.S. silver dollar ever struck.
- 1787 Brasher Doubloon (EB on Wing) – Brought $9.36 million (approx. £6.7 million) in 2021, designed by famed silversmith Ephraim Brasher.
- 1822 Half Eagle – One of just three surviving, auctioned for $8.4 million (approx. £6 million).
- 1343 Edward III Florin – A medieval rarity valued at around $6.8 million (approx. £4.9 million).
Each of these coins proves that collectors are willing to pay extraordinary sums for history in their hands.
The Legacy of the World’s Most Expensive Coin
The 1933 Double Eagle is more than gold – it’s a symbol of America’s past, the Great Depression, and the transition away from the gold standard. Its journey includes politics, royalty, and legal drama, making it the ultimate coin collector’s dream.
For numismatists, it’s a reminder that behind every coin lies a story. Sometimes that story is worth nearly $19 million.
If this story has sparked your passion for collecting, we invite you to browse our website for the latest new coins, collectables, and stamps available today. Your next treasure might just be waiting for you.
The Elder Wand in Pure Silver – A Magical First for Collectors
In the wizarding world, no wand is more feared, desired, or steeped in legend than the Elder Wand. Said to be unbeatable in a duel, it has passed through the hands of history’s most powerful witches and wizards. One of the fabled Deathly Hallows, it is said to grant its master unmatched magical ability.
But until now, it has only existed in the realm of fiction…
The Legend Lives On
According to The Tale of the Three Brothers, the Elder Wand was created by Death himself and given to Antioch Peverell. Over the centuries, it became a prize won only through power, cunning, or betrayal — from Gellert Grindelwald to Albus Dumbledore, and finally Harry Potter himself.
On screen, its distinctive bead-like handle and slender, tapering form made it instantly recognisable to fans worldwide. It is not just an artefact — it is a symbol of destiny, mastery, and the fine line between ambition and greed.
From Page & Screen… to Pure Silver
After more than a year in the making, this legendary wand has been brought to life in a way never seen before — as a three-dimensional Pure Silver Coin.
Crafted from 3oz of 99.9% Pure Silver and enriched with 24 Carat Gold Plating, every curve, bead, and detail has been faithfully recreated. The result is not a flat engraving, but a high-relief sculpture that captures the Elder Wand’s elegance and power.
Our studio’s photographs showcase its craftsmanship, but nothing compares to seeing it in motion. That’s why we’ve created an exclusive video, giving you a 360° view of the coin’s sculpted artistry — so you can truly appreciate the depth, texture, and gleam of the precious metals.
Order The Elder Wand 3oz Silver Coin Now ➜
Why This Coin is a Must-Have
- 3D High Relief Design – A sculpted silver recreation of the Elder Wand
- Premium Precious Metal Content – 3oz of 99.9% Pure Silver, enriched with 24 Carat Gold Plating
- Strictly Limited Edition – Just 1,999 coins worldwide, with UK exclusivity from The Westminster Collection
- UK Allocation of Only 200 – Once gone, no further issues will be made available
- Presented in Luxury – Includes a deluxe presentation case and Certificate of Authenticity
Strictly Limited – Demand Expected to be Intense
Of the 1,999 coins struck worldwide, only 200 have been allocated to UK collectors, exclusively through The Westminster Collection.
If past launches are anything to go by — such as the Golden Snitch and Nimbus 2000 3D Silver Coins, which both sold out in days — this will be no exception. When the UK allocation is gone, it’s gone forever.
Secure Yours Today
This extraordinary coin can be yours for £545 (+p&p), or via our interest-free monthly instalment plan — 10 payments of just £54.50.
Don’t miss your opportunity to own a piece that blends the magic of the wizarding world with the finest in precious metal artistry.
Piece Together History: The Limited-Edition Hurricane Force Puzzle
Introducing the Hurricane Force Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle – a uniquely crafted tribute to Britain’s wartime spirit and engineering brilliance, designed by one of the world’s most renowned military artists: Nicolas Trudgian.
This is the very first edition in a brand-new series of limited-edition wooden jigsaw puzzles, each one designed to honour and preserve the stories and aircraft that shaped Britain.
And with only 2,500 puzzles being produced worldwide, this is your opportunity to secure an exclusive first-edition collectable.
Read on to learn more about the meticulous process behind the puzzle, the inspiration for the Hurricane Force artwork, and exclusive insights from our in‑depth interview with Nicolas himself, revealing the stories, research, and passion that bring this remarkable scene to life.
At the centre of this remarkable puzzle is a striking depiction of the legendary Hawker Hurricane, shown taking off from the historic RAF Tangmere airfield: a vital base during the Battle of Britain. The artwork captures a pivotal moment in WWII aviation history, a scene alive with motion, atmosphere, and spirit.
And you don’t just admire the image, you build it. Piece by piece, you’ll reconstruct a scene steeped in meaning, connecting with a legacy of bravery and resilience in an entirely new way.
The Artist Behind the Puzzle: Nicolas Trudgian
No ordinary image could do justice to a British aircraft so iconic. That’s why the artwork has been created by Nicolas Trudgian, one of the world’s foremost aviation and military artists.
Here at The Westminster Collection, we were granted exclusive access to speak with Nicolas about the inspiration behind this piece, his creative process, and the stories woven into every detail. Below, you’ll discover some fascinating highlights from our conversation — and if you’d like to dive deeper, you can click here to read the full interview >>
Raised in Plymouth, “a city steeped in naval and military history”, Trudgian grew up surrounded by Dartmoor’s wild landscapes, the dramatic coastline, and the constant hum of trains, ships, and aircraft overhead. “I couldn’t get away from noisy machinery even if I’d wanted to,” he recalled. Childhood days spent building Airfix kits, attending Navy Days, and watching the 1969 Battle of Britain film on the big screen left an impression he still draws on today.
“I was born in a house in the middle of a railway junction and close to the river Plym,” he remembers, “being a big military base there always seemed to be aircraft overhead as well.” Those early sights and sounds became the building blocks of his fascination with landscape, machinery, and aviation— a fascination later deepened when he lived in the Cotswolds, on what was once a Battle of Britain fighter base.
Trudgian’s father and uncle both served in the RAF during WWII, and the stories they shared- alongside the bomb‑scarred streets of post‑blitz Plymouth- gave him a lasting respect for those who lived through those times. “In the 1960s and ‘70s,” he says, “the evidence of the bombing was still clear to see in the ruins I cycled past on my way to school. In one classroom, the ceiling was still stained brown where an incendiary bomb had burnt through the plaster.”
Known for combining historical accuracy with emotional depth, Trudgian says, “Collectors like to see detail, even count the rivets… I have to find ways to show accuracy while also creating speed and atmosphere.”
His process is both traditional and modern: designing compositions digitally in Photoshop before transferring them to canvas, building up layers from undercoat to final highlights, and refining with a “fresh‑eye” review, sometimes by looking at the painting in a mirror to catch errors. “I’m never 100% happy with anything I paint,” he admits, “but that’s fine. It gives good reason to start the next one — which will be better. Or so I hope!”
Crafted to Perfection: A Puzzle Like No Other
The Hurricane Force puzzle isn’t made of flimsy cardboard. Instead, it’s precision-cut from 5mm-thick solid wood, designed to withstand time and repeated handling. Each piece fits together smoothly with a satisfying ‘click,’ thanks to laser-cutting technology honed over more than a century by Victory Puzzles, a British manufacturer with a legacy dating back over 100 years.
Even the presentation is top-tier. Your puzzle comes in a beautiful collector’s box with an official Certificate of Authenticity alongside – a testament to its rarity and value.
When asked about the specific scene in the Hurricane Force classic jigsaw, Trudgian explains: “I’ve always been fascinated by the contrast between the life‑or‑death struggle in the skies and the relatively normal life on the ground. A Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot once looked at a background in one of my paintings and said, ‘That’s the Britain we were battling for.’”
Historically, the Hurricane played a bigger part in winning the Battle of Britain than the Spitfire- something Trudgian wanted to spotlight. He explained that these particular aircraft belonged to the famed “Millionaires’ Squadron,” known for the story that when fuel ran low, a couple of wealthy pilots bought out the local petrol station.
Trudgian is equally proud of the landscapes in his paintings as he is of the aircraft. “I like to think of my paintings as ‘landscapes with aeroplanes’, take the planes away and there should still be plenty to see.”
Wherever possible, he bases his landscapes on real locations. In this case, the scene was inspired by a mirrored view of east Devon, but with painstaking alterations: “I had to change the architecture of the station from ‘Great Western Railway’ to that of the ‘London Brighton and South Coast’, and the train became a Southern Railway N Class. Even the type of trees and field patterns needed to be changed to better capture a sense of place. And the finishing touch was the ‘Southdown’ bus.”
Trudgian sees works like Hurricane Force as part of a legacy: “An artist can recreate those days in full colour, and put the viewer in the midst of action and places impossible to record back then. For veterans and their families, the art is like a window on the past – something to help keep those stories alive.”
Discover the Hidden Details – Whimsy Pieces with Meaning
Perhaps the most delightful feature of this puzzle is the fact it contains over 20 specially shaped “whimsy” pieces hidden throughout. These are no ordinary shapes. Each one is a tiny story in itself: symbols that reflect the scene and spirit of wartime Britain.
These are called “whimsy” pieces — a tradition over 100 years old. In the early 1900s, craftsmen hand-cut jigsaws and often added playful shapes “on a whim” to give each puzzle character and meaning.
Look closely and you’ll find:
- Spitfires and Hurricanes in miniature form
- Military medals and insignias
- A silhouetted Winston Churchill, symbolising wartime leadership
- And most memorably, a “V for Victory” hand gesture – a powerful nod to unity, strength, and triumph.
A Rare Introductory Opportunity — JUST £9.99 (+p&p)
To mark the launch of this exciting new collectable, the Hurricane Force jigsaw puzzle is now available for just £9.99 — a full £30 off the regular price. And by securing yours, you gain priority access to the World War Two Aircraft Wooden Jigsaw Collection, guaranteeing you a brand-new classic puzzle every month.
But don’t wait. With only 2,500 puzzles ever to be made, demand is high, and once they’re gone, they’ll never be reproduced. Remember, this is your chance to own an exclusive collectable, one that bridges history, art, and craftsmanship.