1837 United States 50 Cent Value
In the current market, a 1837 United States 50 Cent changes hands for roughly $13.92 at the low end and $150 at the top, and its metal content alone is worth $13.92 as of 2026-06-01 The figures below break the range down grade by grade.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
Melt estimated at the US 0.900 silver standard.
1837 United States 50 Cent value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $13.92 |
| Good (G-4) | $13.92 to $16.70 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $13.92 to $17.20 |
| Fine (F-12) | $13.92 to $18.04 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $13.92 to $19.21 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $15.38 to $21.71 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $18.93 to $26.72 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $26.02 to $36.74 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $41.40 to $58.45 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $106 to $150 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
What is a 1837 United States 50 Cent worth right now?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1837 United States 50 Cent starts around $13.92. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $150. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1837 United States 50 Cent specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1837
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Silver
- Weight
- 13.177 g
- Diameter
- 32.3 mm
- Silver content
- 0.38129 troy oz
The missing mint mark, explained
The 1837 United States 50 Cent comes from Philadelphia, which struck coins without a mint mark. If the spot where branch-mint coins show a letter is empty on your 1837, that is exactly as it should be.
Why the 1837 United States 50 Cent is worth money
Every 1837 United States 50 Cent contains 0.3813 troy ounces of pure silver, currently worth $13.92. That intrinsic value is a hard floor under the price: no matter how worn the coin, the silver inside cannot be graded away.
Official mintage figures for the 1837 United States 50 Cent are not well established. The museum-documented specimens behind our specifications provide the physical reference points for the issue, and the market prices it on observed scarcity.
Context adds the final layer to the 1837 United States 50 Cent. Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
1837 United States 50 Cent inscriptions & design
Obverse
************* (date)
Liberty caped bust l.
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; 50 CENTS
eagle, wings spread, head l., holding arrows and branch
Measured 1837 United States 50 Cent specimens
12 physically measured 1837 United States 50 Cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 13.177 g, 32.3 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1837 United States 50 Cent #1 | 13.34 g | 31 mm | 6 h | Breen.Encyclopedia.4732, JR.15 |
| 1837 United States 50 Cent #2 | - | - | - | Breen.4732 |
| 1837 United States 50 Cent #3 | - | - | - | Breen.4732 |
| 1837 United States 50 Cent #4 | 10.85 g | 30.3 mm | 6 h | Davignon.1837: 5-E |
| 1837 United States 50 Cent #5 | 12.96 g | 32.4 mm | 6 h | Davignon.1837: 2-B |
| 1837 United States 50 Cent #6 | 13.394 g | 32.7 mm | 6 h | Davignon.1837: 2-B |
| 1837 United States 50 Cent #7 | 13.177 g | 32.3 mm | 7 h | Davignon.1837: 2-B |
| 1837 United States 50 Cent #8 | 12.852 g | 33 mm | - | Davignon.1837: 2-B, Breen.4732.ctft |
| 1837 United States 50 Cent #9 | 13.514 g | 33 mm | - | Davignon.1837: 2-B, Breen.4732.ctft |
| 1837 United States 50 Cent #10 | 12.337 g | 33 mm | - | Davignon.1837: 3-C, Riddell.472, Breen.4732.ctft |
| 1837 United States 50 Cent #11 | 13.353 g | 32.2 mm | 6 h | Davignon.1837: 2-B |
| 1837 United States 50 Cent #12 | 12.623 g | 31 mm | - | Davignon.1837: 3-C |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1837 United States 50 Cent is valued between $13.92 and $150 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.