1861 United States Coin Value

A 1861 United States Coin is worth roughly $2.60 to $28.11 depending on its condition, with a hard melt-value floor of $2.60 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 Coin value by grade

1861 United States Coin value by grade
GradeEstimated value
Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01)$2.60
Good (G-4)$2.60 to $3.12
Very Good (VG-8)$2.60 to $3.22
Fine (F-12)$2.60 to $3.37
Very Fine (VF-20)$2.60 to $3.59
Extremely Fine (XF-40)$2.88 to $4.06
About Uncirculated (AU-50)$3.54 to $5.00
Mint State (MS-60)$4.87 to $6.87
Choice Unc (MS-63)$7.74 to $10.93
Gem Unc (MS-65)$19.91 to $28.11

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 Coin worth right now?

Start with $2.60 for a heavily circulated 1861 United States Coin and work upward. Lightly circulated 1861 examples occupy the middle of the range, while true gems approach $28.11. If your coin has no wear on the high points, it deserves a closer look or a professional opinion.

1861 United States Coin specifications

Series
United States Coinage
Year
1861
Mint mark
None (Philadelphia)
Mintage
Not recorded
Composition
Silver
Weight
2.464 g
Diameter
17.5 mm
Silver content
0.07130 troy oz

Why this coin has no mint mark

The 1861 United States Coin was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which used no mint mark in this era. If you find no letter where branch-mint coins carry one (check the usual position for this series), you are holding a Philadelphia issue.

The value drivers behind this coin

Official mintage figures for the 1861 United States Coin 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.

The 90% silver composition gives a 1861 United States Coin 0.0713 oz of precious metal ($2.60 at current spot). Bullion demand alone supports the bottom of its price range.

Few series carry the following that supports the 1861 United States Coin. Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. A coin that thousands of collectors are actively assembling into sets never lacks for a market.

1861 United States Coin inscriptions & design

Obverse

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / LIBERTY (on shield) / (date)

Liberty seated, with shield and liberty cap on pole

Reverse

ONE / DIME

Cereal wreath

Measured 1861 United States Coin specimens

10 physically measured 1861 United States Coin examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 2.464 g, 17.5 mm minting standard.

Measured 1861 United States Coin specimens
SpecimenWeightDiameterDie axisReferences
1861 United States Coin #1----
1861 United States Coin #2---Valentine.1861.1
1861 United States Coin #3---Valentine.1861.1
1861 United States Coin #4----
1861 United States Coin #5----
1861 United States Coin #62.16 g---
1861 United States Coin #74.147 g20 mm12 h-
1861 United States Coin #82.721 g16.5 mm12 h-
1861 United States Coin #92.385 g17.5 mm6 h-
1861 United States Coin #102.464 g18 mm6 h-

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

Summary: the 1861 United States Coin is valued between $2.60 and $28.11 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.