Old Silver Coin From Pre-US Era Sets Auction Record

Imagine this: a tiny silver coin, just a bit bigger than a nickel, sold for a whopping $2. 52 million at an auction! This coin is special because it's from way back in 1652, before the United States even existed. It was found in an old cabinet in Amsterdam eight years ago, and it's been a hot topic since then. The coin is a threepence, which means it's worth three pence. Today, its silver value is just over a dollar, but its historical importance makes it super valuable. It was made in Boston, just after the first mint in the British colony opened. That makes it the most expensive non-gold US coin from before the United States Mint was founded. At first, the owner didn't know much about the coin. It was in a box with a note saying "Silver token unknown/ From Quincy Family/B. Ma. Dec, 1798. " After some research and testing, experts figured out its true value. By 1798, these coins were already rare and prized by collectors.

The coin has a simple design. One side has a NE stamp for New England, and the other shows the value in Roman numerals (III). The Boston Mint made these coins to show New England's growing independence from Britain. After the American Revolution, they became popular even in England. Only two other coins like this are known to exist. One is in a museum, and the other might still be out there somewhere, but no one knows where. This coin had a 12-minute bidding war at the auction, making it a record-breaker. Other old US coins have also sold for big bucks at auctions. For example, a rare 1794 silver dollar sold for $10 million in 2013, and a 1933 "Double Eagle" gold coin went for $18. 9 million in 2021.

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