1888 United States Cent Value
Expect a 1888 United States Cent to trade between about $0.03 and $0.35, driven almost entirely by grade, and its metal content alone is worth $0.03 as of 2026-06-01 See the grade table below for exactly where your coin falls.
Melt estimated at 95% copper (US bronze standard).
1888 United States Cent value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $0.03 |
| Good (G-4) | $0.03 to $0.04 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $0.03 to $0.04 |
| Fine (F-12) | $0.03 to $0.04 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $0.03 to $0.04 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $0.04 to $0.05 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $0.04 to $0.06 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $0.06 to $0.08 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $0.10 to $0.13 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $0.24 to $0.35 |
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 a 1888 United States Cent worth right now?
At the entry level, well-worn examples bring about $0.03. The same coin in gem uncirculated condition is a $0.35 coin. Grade is everything: two examples of the 1888 United States Cent can differ in price by an order of magnitude based purely on preservation.
1888 United States Cent specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1888
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Bronze
- Weight
- 3.317 g
- Diameter
- 19 mm
Why this coin has no mint mark
No mint mark is the mark here: the 1888 United States Cent 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 1888 United States Cent valuable
Official mintage figures for the 1888 United States Cent 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 1888 United States Cent. 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.
1888 United States Cent inscriptions & design
Obverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1888
Liberty head, Indian headdress
Reverse
ONE CENT
wreath, shield
Measured 1888 United States Cent specimens
2 physically measured 1888 United States Cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 3.317 g, 19 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1888 United States Cent #1 | 3.317 g | 19 mm | 6 h | KM.90a |
| 1888 United States Cent #2 | - | - | - | Breen.2011 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1888 United States Cent is valued between $0.03 and $0.35 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.