1889 United States Dollar Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1889 United States Dollar brings anywhere from $162 to $1,750, and its metal content alone is worth $162 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.
1889 United States Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $162.07 |
| Good (G-4) | $162 to $194 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $162 to $200 |
| Fine (F-12) | $162 to $210 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $162 to $224 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $179 to $253 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $220 to $311 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $303 to $428 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $482 to $681 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $1,240 to $1,750 |
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 Dollar worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1889 United States Dollar starts around $162. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $1,750. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1889 United States Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1889
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Gold
- Weight
- 1.672 g
- Diameter
- 14.75 mm
- Gold content
- 0.04838 troy oz
No mint mark? Here is why
The 1889 United States Dollar comes from Philadelphia, which struck coins without a mint mark. If the spot where branch-mint coins show a letter is empty on your 1889, that is exactly as it should be.
Why the 1889 United States Dollar is worth money
The 1889 United States Dollar lacks precise production records, so its value rests on demonstrated rarity: how often examples surface at auction and how they compare to documented specimens.
The gold inside a 1889 United States Dollar, 0.0484 troy ounces, currently $162, is the foundation of the price. Numismatic value begins where the bullion math ends.
Context adds the final layer to the 1889 United States 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 Dollar inscriptions & design
Obverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
head of Liberty l. wearing bonnet
Reverse
1 / DOLLAR/ 1889 in 3 lines
wreath of corn stalks, value within
Measured 1889 United States Dollar specimens
3 physically measured 1889 United States Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 1.672 g, 14.75 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1889 United States Dollar #1 | 1.682 g | 14.75 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.94, Breen.6112 |
| 1889 United States Dollar #2 | 1.672 g | 14.75 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.94, Breen.6112 |
| 1889 United States Dollar #3 | 1.668 g | 15 mm | - | Breen.6112 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1889 United States Dollar is valued between $162 and $1,750 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.