1842-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar Value
A 1842-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar is worth roughly $403 to $4,354 depending on its condition, while the raw metal inside it is valued at $403 as of 2026-06-01 Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
Melt estimated at the US 0.900 gold standard.
1842-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $403.14 |
| Good (G-4) | $403 to $484 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $403 to $498 |
| Fine (F-12) | $403 to $522 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $403 to $556 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $445 to $629 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $548 to $774 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $754 to $1,064 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $1,199 to $1,693 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $3,084 to $4,354 |
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.
How much is a 1842-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar worth today?
Start with $403 for a heavily circulated 1842-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar and work upward. Lightly circulated 1842 examples occupy the middle of the range, while true gems approach $4,354. If your coin has no wear on the high points, it deserves a closer look or a professional opinion.
1842-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1842
- Mint mark
- D
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Gold
- Weight
- 4.159 g
- Diameter
- 17.9 mm
- Gold content
- 0.12034 troy oz
Locating the mint mark on this coin
Identifying a 1842-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar hinges on one small letter: the "D" of Dahlonega. Verify it before pricing the coin, because a 1842 from a different mint can be worth a very different amount.
Where this coin's value comes from
Official mintage figures for the 1842-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar 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.
With 0.1203 oz of fine gold inside ($403 of metal at today's prices), a 1842-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar can never trade below its bullion value, and rarer dates stack collector premiums on top.
There is history in a 1842 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.
1842-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar inscriptions & design
Obverse
LIBERTY / 1842
Liberty bust left surrounded by 13 stars
Reverse
• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA • / 2 1/2 D. / D
eagle facing, head l.
Measured 1842-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar specimens
1 physically measured 1842-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar example in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 4.159 g, 17.9 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1842-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar #1 | 4.159 g | 17.9 mm | 6 h | Friedberg.USA.117, Breen.6164 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1842-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar is valued between $403 and $4,354 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.