1988 United States 5 Dollar Value
A 1988 United States 5 Dollar is worth roughly $809 to $8,741 depending on its condition; the melt floor under every example is $809 (spot prices as of 2026-06-01) The figures below break the range down grade by grade.
Melt estimated at the US 0.900 gold standard.
1988 United States 5 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $809.39 |
| Good (G-4) | $809 to $971 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $809 to $1,000 |
| Fine (F-12) | $809 to $1,049 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $809 to $1,117 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $894 to $1,263 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $1,101 to $1,554 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $1,514 to $2,137 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $2,408 to $3,399 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $6,192 to $8,741 |
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 1988 United States 5 Dollar
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1988 United States 5 Dollar starts around $809. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $8,741. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1988 United States 5 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1988
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Gold
- Weight
- 8.35 g
- Diameter
- 21.59 mm
- Gold content
- 0.24161 troy oz
Reading a coin with no mint mark
Philadelphia struck the 1988 United States 5 Dollar, and Philadelphia coins of this period carry no mint mark at all. An empty space at the usual mint mark position (see the series guide) confirms a Philadelphia strike, not a flaw.
What makes the 1988 United States 5 Dollar valuable
Without a firm mintage figure, the 1988 United States 5 Dollar trades on what actually turns up. Documented museum specimens give collectors a benchmark for authenticity and typical preservation.
The gold inside a 1988 United States 5 Dollar, 0.2416 troy ounces, currently $809, is the foundation of the price. Numismatic value begins where the bullion math ends.
Context adds the final layer to the 1988 United States 5 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.
Measured 1988 United States 5 Dollar specimens
6 physically measured 1988 United States 5 Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 8.35 g, 21.59 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 United States 5 Dollar #1 | 8.35 g | 21.59 mm | 6 h | KM.223 |
| 1988 United States 5 Dollar #2 | 8.35 g | 21.59 mm | 6 h | KM.223 |
| 1988 United States 5 Dollar #3 | 8.35 g | 21.59 mm | 6 h | KM.223 |
| 1988 United States 5 Dollar #4 | 8.35 g | 21.59 mm | 6 h | KM.223 |
| 1988 United States 5 Dollar #5 | 8.35 g | 21.59 mm | 6 h | KM.223 |
| 1988 United States 5 Dollar #6 | - | 22 mm | - | Breen.not.yet, Friedberg.USA.199 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1988 United States 5 Dollar is valued between $809 and $8,741 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.