By Gregory Wallace @gregorywallace November 20, 2013: 2:40 AM ET
1796 B2 Quarter Dollar
1 of 5
Sold for: $1.5 million
This 25-cent piece sold for many times its face value and fetched the largest sum ever paid for a quarter. Appraiser Mark Borckardt of Heritage Auctions, which organized the sale, called the quality "phenomenal" and said collectors value the rainbow-like coloring on the coin's surface.