1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar Value
A 1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar is worth roughly $404 to $4,360 depending on its condition, and its metal content alone is worth $404 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.
1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $403.74 |
| Good (G-4) | $404 to $484 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $404 to $499 |
| Fine (F-12) | $404 to $523 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $404 to $557 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $446 to $630 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $549 to $775 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $755 to $1,066 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $1,201 to $1,696 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $3,089 to $4,360 |
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 1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar starts around $404. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $4,360. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1876
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Gold
- Weight
- 4.165 g
- Diameter
- 17.5 mm
- Gold content
- 0.12052 troy oz
The missing mint mark, explained
No mint mark is the mark here: the 1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar comes from the main Philadelphia Mint, which left its coins unlettered in this era. The position where branch mints placed their letter (varies by series) is simply blank.
What makes the 1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar valuable
The gold inside a 1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar, 0.1205 troy ounces, currently $404, is the foundation of the price. Numismatic value begins where the bullion math ends.
Without a firm mintage figure, the 1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar trades on what actually turns up. Documented museum specimens give collectors a benchmark for authenticity and typical preservation.
There is history in a 1876 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.
1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar inscriptions & design
Obverse
************* (date)
coronet head of Liberty l.
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; 2 1/2 D.
eagle facing, head l.
Measured 1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar specimens
3 physically measured 1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 4.165 g, 17.5 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar #1 | 4.172 g | 17.5 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.114, Breen.6290 |
| 1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar #2 | 4.141 g | 18 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.119, Breen.6291 |
| 1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar #3 | 4.165 g | 17.5 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.114, Breen.6290 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1876 United States 2 1/2 Dollar is valued between $404 and $4,360 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.