1838 United States 1/2 Dollar Value
The 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar carries a current retail range of about $13.51 to $146 across circulated and Mint State grades, and its metal content alone is worth $13.51 as of 2026-06-01 Where your coin lands depends on wear, strike and surface quality.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
Melt estimated at the US 0.900 silver standard.
1838 United States 1/2 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $13.51 |
| Good (G-4) | $13.51 to $16.22 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $13.51 to $16.70 |
| Fine (F-12) | $13.51 to $17.51 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $13.51 to $18.65 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $14.93 to $21.08 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $18.38 to $25.95 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $25.27 to $35.68 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $40.20 to $56.76 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $103 to $146 |
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 the 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar starts around $13.51. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $146. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1838 United States 1/2 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1838
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Silver
- Weight
- 12.795 g
- Diameter
- 30 mm
- Silver content
- 0.37023 troy oz
No mint mark? Here is why
The 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar comes from Philadelphia, which struck coins without a mint mark. If the spot where branch-mint coins show a letter is empty on your 1838, that is exactly as it should be.
What makes the 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar valuable
Without a firm mintage figure, the 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar trades on what actually turns up. Documented museum specimens give collectors a benchmark for authenticity and typical preservation.
The 90% silver composition gives a 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar 0.3702 oz of precious metal ($13.51 at current spot). Bullion demand alone supports the bottom of its price range.
Context adds the final layer to the 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar. 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.
1838 United States 1/2 Dollar inscriptions & design
Obverse
************* (date)
Liberty caped bust l.
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; HALF DOL.
eagle, wings spread, head l., holding arrows and branch
Measured 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar specimens
12 physically measured 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 12.795 g, 30 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar #1 | 13.35 g | 30 mm | - | Judd.72, Adams.Woodin.70, Pollock.75 |
| 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar #2 | 13.15 g | 30.1 mm | 6 h | Breen.4734 (fake) |
| 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar #3 | - | - | - | Breen.4734 |
| 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar #4 | - | - | - | Breen.4734 |
| 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar #5 | - | - | - | Judd.73, Pollock.77, Adams.Woodin.72 |
| 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar #6 | - | - | - | Breen.4734 |
| 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar #7 | 10.738 g | 30.4 mm | 6 h | Davignon.not |
| 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar #8 | 12.795 g | - | 12 h | Davignon.1838: 3-C |
| 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar #9 | 12.452 g | 30 mm | - | Davignon.1838: 5-F |
| 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar #10 | 12.912 g | - | 6 h | Davignon.1838: 5-F |
| 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar #11 | 9.511 g | 32 mm | 6 h | Davignon.not, Breen.4734.ctft |
| 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar #12 | 10.686 g | 29 mm | 6 h | Davignon.1838: 2-B |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1838 United States 1/2 Dollar is valued between $13.51 and $146 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.