Top 100 Modern Coins 10th Anniversary Edition

For the first time in a decade, PCGS has a new list of Top 100 Modern Coins. This secondary PCGS Top 100 Modern Coins Registry Set, launched to mark the 10th anniversary of the original PCGS Top 100 Modern Coins set, takes into consideration many factors, including the popularity of certain modern coins, their availability, and consistency on what merits a coin worthy of being included among this prestigious grouping. The PCGS team concluded that the period of 1964 to date would be the timeframe for coins chosen for inclusion on this list.

Some of the logic in determining this 10th anniversary set was ensuring that each of the coins included is special or significant in some way. Another matter was taking into account the value of each coin listed, visual prominence of any notable varieties, and ensuring that the list entails a diverse variety of coins. Above all, rarity played a huge role in deciding which coins made the cut. For example, the 1995-W Proof American Silver Eagle is a true modern rarity, with a mintage of just 30,125, and serves as a major key date for its series; thus, it was included among the PCGS Top 100 Modern Coins 10th Anniversary Edition Registry set.

Ranking and ordering the coins from #1 to #100 was no small task, and some of the major criteria in deciding where each coin ranks on the list is their rarity, value, survival rate, historical significance, why or how it was struck, and under what circumstances the coin was produced. Some of the rarities, such as the 1964-D Peace Dollar, are essentially impossible for a collector to obtain, so while it may be – in theory – one of the most prominent coins deserving of a spot in such a list, it’s impractical to list it in this PCGS Top 100 Modern Coins 10th Anniversary Edition Registry Set.