1848-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1848-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar brings anywhere from $402 to $4,343, and its metal content alone is worth $402 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 gold standard.
1848-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $402.17 |
| Good (G-4) | $402 to $483 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $402 to $497 |
| Fine (F-12) | $402 to $521 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $402 to $555 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $444 to $627 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $547 to $772 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $752 to $1,062 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $1,196 to $1,689 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $3,077 to $4,343 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-13. 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 1848-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar selling for today?
At the entry level, well-worn examples bring about $402. The same coin in gem uncirculated condition is a $4,343 coin. Grade is everything: two examples of the 1848-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar can differ in price by an order of magnitude based purely on preservation.
1848-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1848
- Mint mark
- D
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Gold
- Weight
- 4.149 g
- Diameter
- 17.96 mm
- Gold content
- 0.12005 troy oz
Where is the mint mark on a 1848 United States Coinage?
On a 1848-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar, the "D" mint mark of the Dahlonega 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 1848-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar valuable
For the 1848-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar, surviving examples tell the story that mint records do not. Museum-documented specimens define the issue for collectors.
With 0.1201 oz of fine gold inside ($402 of metal at today's prices), a 1848-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar can never trade below its bullion value, and rarer dates stack collector premiums on top.
Context adds the final layer to the 1848-D United States 2 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.
1848-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar inscriptions & design
Obverse
LIBERTY / 1848
Liberty bust left surrounded by 13 stars
Reverse
• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA • / 2 1/2 D. / D
Heraldic eagle
Measured 1848-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar specimens
1 physically measured 1848-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 4.149 g, 17.96 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1848-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar #1 | 4.149 g | 17.96 mm | 6 h | Friedberg.USA.117, Breen.6198 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1848-D United States 2 1/2 Dollar is valued between $402 and $4,343 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.