1879 United States Coin Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1879 United States Coin brings anywhere from $2.59 to $27.94, and its metal content alone is worth $2.59 as of 2026-06-01 See the grade table below for exactly where your coin falls.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
Melt estimated at the US 0.900 silver standard.
1879 United States Coin value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $2.59 |
| Good (G-4) | $2.59 to $3.10 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $2.59 to $3.20 |
| Fine (F-12) | $2.59 to $3.35 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $2.59 to $3.57 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $2.86 to $4.04 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $3.52 to $4.97 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $4.84 to $6.83 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $7.70 to $10.87 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $19.79 to $27.94 |
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.
Today's value of the 1879 United States Coin
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1879 United States Coin starts around $2.59. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $27.94. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1879 United States Coin specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1879
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Silver
- Weight
- 2.45 g
- Silver content
- 0.07089 troy oz
The missing mint mark, explained
Look for a letter and you will not find one. The 1879 United States Coin is a Philadelphia product, and the main mint did not sign its work at this time.
What makes the 1879 United States Coin valuable
Every 1879 United States Coin contains 0.0709 troy ounces of pure silver, currently worth $2.59. That intrinsic value is a hard floor under the price: no matter how worn the coin, the silver inside cannot be graded away.
Official mintage figures for the 1879 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.
Context adds the final layer to the 1879 United States Coin. 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.
1879 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 1879 United States Coin specimens
2 physically measured 1879 United States Coin examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 2.45 g, mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1879 United States Coin #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1879 United States Coin #2 | 2.45 g | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1879 United States Coin is valued between $2.59 and $27.94 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.