1861 United States 1/2 Dollar Value
The 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar carries a current retail range of about $11.91 to $129 across circulated and Mint State grades, and its metal content alone is worth $11.91 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 silver standard.
1861 United States 1/2 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $11.91 |
| Good (G-4) | $11.91 to $14.30 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $11.91 to $14.72 |
| Fine (F-12) | $11.91 to $15.44 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $11.91 to $16.44 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $13.16 to $18.58 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $16.20 to $22.87 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $22.28 to $31.45 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $35.44 to $50.04 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $91.14 to $129 |
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 a 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar worth right now?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar starts around $11.91. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $129. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1861 United States 1/2 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1861
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Silver
- Weight
- 11.28 g
- Diameter
- 30 mm
- Silver content
- 0.32639 troy oz
No mint mark? Here is why
Look for a letter and you will not find one. The 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar is a Philadelphia product, and the main mint did not sign its work at this time.
Why the 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar is worth money
The 90% silver composition gives a 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar 0.3264 oz of precious metal ($11.91 at current spot). Bullion demand alone supports the bottom of its price range.
The 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar lacks precise production records, so its value rests on demonstrated rarity: how often examples surface at auction and how they compare to documented specimens.
Context adds the final layer to the 1861 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.
1861 United States 1/2 Dollar inscriptions & design
Obverse
************* (date)
Liberty seated
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; HALF DOL.
eagle, shield on breast, holding branch and arrows
Measured 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar specimens
12 physically measured 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 11.28 g, 30 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar #1 | 11.969 g | 30 mm | - | Breen.8002 |
| 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar #2 | 12.466 g | 30 mm | - | Breen.8000.1 |
| 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar #3 | 11.28 g | 31 mm | - | Judd.278, Adams.Woodin.348, Pollock.327 |
| 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar #4 | 12.434 g | 30 mm | 6 h | Breen.Encyclopedia.4904, Beistle.2c |
| 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar #5 | - | - | - | Breen.4902 |
| 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar #6 | - | 30 mm | - | Breen.8003 |
| 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar #7 | - | - | - | Breen.4904 |
| 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar #8 | - | - | - | Breen.4908 |
| 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar #9 | - | - | - | Breen.4906 |
| 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar #10 | 10.05 g | 28.5 mm | - | - |
| 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar #11 | 9.151 g | 33 mm | 6 h | Breen.4902.t |
| 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar #12 | - | 30 mm | - | Breen.8003 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1861 United States 1/2 Dollar is valued between $11.91 and $129 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.