1839-C United States 2 1/2 Dollar Value
In the current market, a 1839-C United States 2 1/2 Dollar changes hands for roughly $404 at the low end and $4,362 at the top, and its metal content alone is worth $404 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 gold standard.
1839-C United States 2 1/2 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $403.91 |
| Good (G-4) | $404 to $485 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $404 to $499 |
| Fine (F-12) | $404 to $523 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $404 to $557 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $446 to $630 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $549 to $776 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $755 to $1,066 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $1,202 to $1,696 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $3,090 to $4,362 |
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.
Today's value of the 1839-C United States 2 1/2 Dollar
At the entry level, well-worn examples bring about $404. The same coin in gem uncirculated condition is a $4,362 coin. Grade is everything: two examples of the 1839-C United States 2 1/2 Dollar can differ in price by an order of magnitude based purely on preservation.
1839-C United States 2 1/2 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1839
- Mint mark
- C
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Gold
- Weight
- 4.167 g
- Diameter
- 18.13 mm
- Gold content
- 0.12057 troy oz
Where is the mint mark on a 1839 United States Coinage?
On a 1839-C United States 2 1/2 Dollar, the "C" mint mark of the Charlotte Mint sits in the standard position for this series. A loupe helps: on worn examples the letter can fade into the surrounding devices.
What makes the 1839-C United States 2 1/2 Dollar valuable
Without a firm mintage figure, the 1839-C United States 2 1/2 Dollar trades on what actually turns up. Documented museum specimens give collectors a benchmark for authenticity and typical preservation.
Pre-1933 gold carries two values at once: the 1839-C United States 2 1/2 Dollar holds 0.1206 oz of metal ($404 today) plus the historical premium of a coin the Treasury once tried to recall entirely.
There is history in a 1839 United States Coinage as well. Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. That backdrop keeps the series among the most actively collected in American numismatics.
1839-C United States 2 1/2 Dollar inscriptions & design
Obverse
LIBERTY / C/ 1839
Liberty bust left surrounded by 13 stars
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / 2 1/2 D.
Heraldic eagle
Measured 1839-C United States 2 1/2 Dollar specimens
1 physically measured 1839-C United States 2 1/2 Dollar example in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 4.167 g, 18.13 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1839-C United States 2 1/2 Dollar #1 | 4.167 g | 18.13 mm | 6 h | Friedberg.USA.111, Breen.6150 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1839-C United States 2 1/2 Dollar is valued between $404 and $4,362 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.