1839 United States Coin Value

A 1839 United States Coin is worth roughly $1.42 to $15.29 depending on its condition, and its metal content alone is worth $1.42 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.

1839 United States Coin value by grade

1839 United States Coin value by grade
GradeEstimated value
Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01)$1.42
Good (G-4)$1.42 to $1.70
Very Good (VG-8)$1.42 to $1.75
Fine (F-12)$1.42 to $1.84
Very Fine (VF-20)$1.42 to $1.95
Extremely Fine (XF-40)$1.56 to $2.21
About Uncirculated (AU-50)$1.93 to $2.72
Mint State (MS-60)$2.65 to $3.74
Choice Unc (MS-63)$4.21 to $5.95
Gem Unc (MS-65)$10.83 to $15.29

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.

Current 1839 United States Coin value

In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1839 United States Coin starts around $1.42. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $15.29. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.

1839 United States Coin specifications

Series
United States Coinage
Year
1839
Mint mark
None (Philadelphia)
Mintage
Not recorded
Composition
Silver
Weight
1.341 g
Diameter
15 mm
Silver content
0.03880 troy oz

Why there is no letter on this coin

Look for a letter and you will not find one. The 1839 United States Coin is a Philadelphia product, and the main mint did not sign its work at this time.

What makes the 1839 United States Coin valuable

Every 1839 United States Coin contains 0.0388 troy ounces of pure silver, currently worth $1.42. That intrinsic value is a hard floor under the price: no matter how worn the coin, the silver inside cannot be graded away.

Without a firm mintage figure, the 1839 United States Coin trades on what actually turns up. Documented museum specimens give collectors a benchmark for authenticity and typical preservation.

Context adds the final layer to the 1839 United States Coin. 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.

1839 United States Coin inscriptions & design

Obverse

LIBERTY (on shield) / (date)

Liberty seated, with shield and liberty cap on pole, surrounded by 13 stars

Reverse

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / HALF / DIME

Laurel wreath

Measured 1839 United States Coin specimens

10 physically measured 1839 United States Coin examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 1.341 g, 15 mm minting standard.

Measured 1839 United States Coin specimens
SpecimenWeightDiameterDie axisReferences
1839 United States Coin #11.341 g16 mm6 h-
1839 United States Coin #21.334 g15 mm6 hBreen.Encyclopedia.3012, Valentine.1
1839 United States Coin #3---Valentine.1839.1
1839 United States Coin #4----
1839 United States Coin #5----
1839 United States Coin #6---Valentine.1839.3a
1839 United States Coin #7---Valentine.1839.2a
1839 United States Coin #8---Valentine.1839.2b
1839 United States Coin #9---Valentine.1839.4a
1839 United States Coin #10169.5 g---

Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.

Summary: the 1839 United States Coin is valued between $1.42 and $15.29 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.