1878 United States 2 1/2 Dollar Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1878 United States 2 1/2 Dollar brings anywhere from $404 to $4,359, and its metal content alone is worth $404 as of 2026-06-01 Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
Melt estimated at the US 0.900 gold standard.
1878 United States 2 1/2 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $403.64 |
| 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 $1,695 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $3,088 to $4,359 |
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.
What is the 1878 United States 2 1/2 Dollar selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1878 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 $4,359. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1878 United States 2 1/2 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1878
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Gold
- Weight
- 4.164 g
- Diameter
- 17.5 mm
- Gold content
- 0.12049 troy oz
Why there is no letter on this coin
The 1878 United States 2 1/2 Dollar comes from Philadelphia, which struck coins without a mint mark. If the spot where branch-mint coins show a letter is empty on your 1878, that is exactly as it should be.
What makes the 1878 United States 2 1/2 Dollar valuable
For the 1878 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 0.1205 oz of fine gold inside ($404 of metal at today's prices), a 1878 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 1878 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.
1878 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 1878 United States 2 1/2 Dollar specimens
3 physically measured 1878 United States 2 1/2 Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 4.164 g, 17.5 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1878 United States 2 1/2 Dollar #1 | 4.18 g | 17.5 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.114, Breen.6294 |
| 1878 United States 2 1/2 Dollar #2 | 4.16 g | 17.5 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.119, Breen.6296 |
| 1878 United States 2 1/2 Dollar #3 | 4.164 g | 17.5 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.114, Breen.6294 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1878 United States 2 1/2 Dollar is valued between $404 and $4,359 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.