1889 United States 2 1/2 Dollar Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1889 United States 2 1/2 Dollar brings anywhere from $405 to $4,372, and its metal content alone is worth $405 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.
1889 United States 2 1/2 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $404.81 |
| Good (G-4) | $405 to $486 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $405 to $500 |
| Fine (F-12) | $405 to $525 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $405 to $559 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $447 to $632 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $551 to $777 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $757 to $1,069 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $1,204 to $1,700 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $3,097 to $4,372 |
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.
How much is a 1889 United States 2 1/2 Dollar worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1889 United States 2 1/2 Dollar starts around $405. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $4,372. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1889 United States 2 1/2 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1889
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Gold
- Weight
- 4.176 g
- Diameter
- 17.5 mm
- Gold content
- 0.12084 troy oz
The missing mint mark, explained
The 1889 United States 2 1/2 Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which used no mint mark in this era. If you find no letter where branch-mint coins carry one (check the usual position for this series), you are holding a Philadelphia issue.
What makes the 1889 United States 2 1/2 Dollar valuable
Documented examples of the 1889 United States 2 1/2 Dollar in our reference database anchor what we know about this issue. Mintage records are incomplete, so collector demand and surviving population drive its market.
The gold inside a 1889 United States 2 1/2 Dollar, 0.1208 troy ounces, currently $405, is the foundation of the price. Numismatic value begins where the bullion math ends.
Context adds the final layer to the 1889 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.
1889 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 1889 United States 2 1/2 Dollar specimens
2 physically measured 1889 United States 2 1/2 Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 4.176 g, 17.5 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1889 United States 2 1/2 Dollar #1 | 4.185 g | 17.5 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.114, Breen.6308 |
| 1889 United States 2 1/2 Dollar #2 | 4.176 g | 17.5 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.114, Breen.6308 (fake) |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1889 United States 2 1/2 Dollar is valued between $405 and $4,372 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.