PCGS has been the trusted leader for authenticating, grading, and encapsulating world coins for four decades. However, as the company’s reach continues to grow worldwide, the numismatic industry is seeing more and more PCGS-graded world coins take top prices at auction. In 2025, PCGS-graded coins scored 16 of the top 20 highest auction prices realized, including the highest price realized, at over $4.3 million (USD, as all prices in this article are listed).
Just as impressive as the results is the sheer diversity and rarity of the coins in this top 20 list, which is topped by one of the rarest and most sought-after of all Chinese coins:
- #1 – (1927) China: Republic Chang Tso-lin silver Specimen Pattern Dollar Year 16, PCGS SP63 – $4,320,000; Heritage Auctions, December 7, 2025
- #2 – 1898 South Africa Gold "9" Pond, NGC MS63PL – $2,160,000; Heritage Auctions, January 13, 2025
- #3 – (1911) China: Hsüan-t'ung Specimen Pattern "Large-Tailed Dragon" Dollar Year 3, PCGS SP64 – $1,740,000; Heritage Auctions, December 7, 2025
- #4 – (1897) China: Kiangnan. Kuang-hsü Specimen Pattern Dollar ND, PCGS SP66 – $1,500,000; Heritage Auctions, December 7, 2025
- #5 – (1906) China: Kuang-hsü gold Specimen Pattern Kuping Tael (Liang) CD, PCGS SP64+ – $1,260,000; Heritage Auctions, December 7, 2025
- TIED #6 – (1890) China: Kweichow. Kuang-hsü Dollar (Silver Cake) Year 16, PCGS MS61 – $1,140,000; Heritage Auctions, December 7, 2025
- TIED #6 – (1889) China: Kwangtung. Kuang-hsü Specimen "Seven Three Reversed Pattern" Dollar ND, PCGS SP67 – $1,140,000; Heritage Auctions, December 7, 2025
- #8 – (1928) China: Tientsin. Pattern Dollar, PCGS SP62 – $1,020,000; Stack’s Bowers Galleries, April 7, 2025
- #9 – (1906) China: Kuang-hsü gold Specimen Pattern Kuping Tael (Liang) CD, PCGS SP66 –$810,000; Heritage Auctions, June 18, 2025
- #10 – (1924) China: Republic Tuan Chi-jui gold Specimen Pattern Dollar ND, PCGS SP64 – $750,000; Heritage Auctions, December 7, 2025
- TIED #11 – (1897) China: Kiangnan. Kuang-hsü Specimen Pattern 50 Cents ND, PCGS SP67+ – $720,000; Heritage Auctions, December 7, 2025
- TIED #11 – 1702 Russia: Peter I Medallic Polupoltina of 3 Ducats, NGC AU Details – $720,000; Heritage Auctions, December 9, 2025
- TIED #13 – (1934) China: Republic Sun Yat-sen gold Specimen Pattern "Junk" Dollar Year 23, PCGS SP61 – $660,000; Heritage Auctions, December 7, 2025
- TIED #13 – (1889) CHINA. Kwangtung. 7 Mace 3 Candereens (Dollar), ND. Kwangtung Mint, PCGS MS63 – $660,000; Stack’s Bowers Galleries, April 7, 2025
- TIED #13 – 2024 United Kingdom: Paul McCartney Gold 5 Kilogram Commemorative Coin, Unique, OGP – $660,000; Stack’s Bowers Galleries, March 19, 2025
- #16 – (1907) China: Kuang-hsü gold Specimen Pattern Kuping Tael (Liang), PCGS SP61 – $552,000; Heritage Auctions, December 8, 2025
- TIED #17 – (1908) China: Kirin. Kuang-hsü Dollar CD, PCGS MS63 – $528,000; Heritage Auctions, December 7, 2025
- TIED #17 – (1906) China: Kuang-hsü gold Specimen Pattern Kuping Tael (Liang) CD, PCGS SP62 – $528,000; Stack’s Bowers Galleries, April 7, 2025
- TIED #19 – (1916) China. Gold Dollar Pattern, ND. Tientsin Mint. Hung-hsien (Hongxian [Yuan Shih-kai]), PCGS SP64+ – $504,000; Stack’s Bowers Galleries, October 13, 2025
- TIED #19 – (1911) China: Hsüan-t'ung Silver Restrike Specimen Pattern "Long-Whiskered Dragon" Dollar, Year 3, NGC SP63 – $504,000; Heritage Auctions, June 18, 2025
Coin collectors and coin dealers who are interested in submitting their world coins for authentication, grading, and encapsulation are encouraged to visit the PCGS website for their region, including PCGS.com for United States submissions, https://www.pcgseurope.com/ for submissions in Europe, and https://www.pcgsasia.com/ for submissions in Asia.