1888 United States Coin Value
Today a 1888 United States Coin typically sells for $1.91 to $20.66, with condition doing most of the work; the melt floor under every example is $1.91 (spot prices 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 silver standard.
1888 United States Coin value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $1.91 |
| Good (G-4) | $1.91 to $2.30 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $1.91 to $2.36 |
| Fine (F-12) | $1.91 to $2.48 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $1.91 to $2.64 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $2.11 to $2.98 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $2.60 to $3.67 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $3.58 to $5.05 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $5.69 to $8.03 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $14.63 to $20.66 |
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 Coin worth right now?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1888 United States Coin starts around $1.91. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $20.66. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1888 United States Coin specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1888
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Silver
- Weight
- 1.811 g
- Diameter
- 17.5 mm
- Silver content
- 0.05240 troy oz
The missing mint mark, explained
No mint mark is the mark here: the 1888 United States Coin 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 Coin valuable
Official mintage figures for the 1888 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.
Every 1888 United States Coin contains 0.0524 troy ounces of pure silver, currently worth $1.91. That intrinsic value is a hard floor under the price: no matter how worn the coin, the silver inside cannot be graded away.
There is history in a 1888 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.
1888 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 1888 United States Coin specimens
5 physically measured 1888 United States Coin examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 1.811 g, 17.5 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1888 United States Coin #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1888 United States Coin #2 | - | - | - | - |
| 1888 United States Coin #3 | 2.135 g | - | 6 h | - |
| 1888 United States Coin #4 | 1.811 g | 17.5 mm | 6 h | - |
| 1888 United States Coin #5 | - | 18 mm | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1888 United States Coin is valued between $1.91 and $20.66 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.