1882 United States 2 1/2 Dollar Value
In the current market, a 1882 United States 2 1/2 Dollar changes hands for roughly $404 at the low end and $4,365 at the top, and its metal content alone is worth $404 as of 2026-06-01 Where your coin lands depends on wear, strike and surface quality.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
Melt estimated at the US 0.900 gold standard.
1882 United States 2 1/2 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $404.21 |
| Good (G-4) | $404 to $485 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $404 to $500 |
| Fine (F-12) | $404 to $524 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $404 to $558 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $447 to $631 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $550 to $776 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $756 to $1,067 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $1,203 to $1,698 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $3,092 to $4,365 |
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 1882 United States 2 1/2 Dollar
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1882 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 $4,365. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1882 United States 2 1/2 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1882
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Gold
- Weight
- 4.17 g
- Diameter
- 17.5 mm
- Gold content
- 0.12066 troy oz
The missing mint mark, explained
Look for a letter and you will not find one. The 1882 United States 2 1/2 Dollar is a Philadelphia product, and the main mint did not sign its work at this time.
What makes the 1882 United States 2 1/2 Dollar valuable
Without a firm mintage figure, the 1882 United States 2 1/2 Dollar trades on what actually turns up. Documented museum specimens give collectors a benchmark for authenticity and typical preservation.
Each 1882 United States 2 1/2 Dollar holds 0.1207 troy ounces of gold, worth $404 at current spot prices. Gold content dominates the value of common dates and underwrites every numismatic premium above it.
Context adds the final layer to the 1882 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.
1882 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 1882 United States 2 1/2 Dollar specimens
2 physically measured 1882 United States 2 1/2 Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 4.17 g, 17.5 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1882 United States 2 1/2 Dollar #1 | 4.18 g | 17.5 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.114, Breen.6301 |
| 1882 United States 2 1/2 Dollar #2 | 4.17 g | 17.5 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.114, Breen.6301 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1882 United States 2 1/2 Dollar is valued between $404 and $4,365 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.