Price Guide for U.S. Coins: Values From Cents to Gold
This price guide for U.S. coins is a starting point for anyone who has inherited a collection, found a jar of old coins or is thinking about selling. It is organized by denomination, from cents and nickels through silver dollars and gold, and explains what drives a coin’s value, how to read a published price guide, and why a guide price is not the same as what a dealer will pay.
American Rarities has bought and sold U.S. coins since 1990. In more than 30 years we have purchased over $350 million in coins, currency and precious metals, and our numismatists bring hundreds of years of combined experience to every appraisal. We buy everything from U.S. gold coins and silver dollars to proof sets, mint sets and commemoratives.
On this page:
Our common and rare coin price guide lists approximate values for many U.S. coins and notes, along with a melt value table for silver and gold coins. Use it alongside this page: this guide explains how coin values work, and the price guide gives you figures to compare. For paper money, see our paper money values page.
Want a quick answer on a single coin? Try our coin value finder or coin value search, or send us photos for a free online coin appraisal. If a key date on your list is hard to find, our free rare coin want list service can help you locate it.
U.S. Coin Values by Series: Cents Through Gold
Below is a quick tour of the main U.S. coin series, with the dates and mint marks collectors look for and links to our deeper guides.
Cents and Nickels
Indian Head cents (1859–1909) are popular with collectors; the 1877 and 1909-S are key dates. Lincoln wheat cents (1909–1958) are mostly common, but the 1909-S VDB, 1914-D and 1955 doubled die are famous rarities. Steel cents from 1943 and copper-alloy cents struck by error that year are also worth checking.
Liberty Head (“V”) nickels (1883–1912) and Buffalo nickels (1913–1938) are valued by date and condition; the 1937-D “three-legged” Buffalo is a well-known variety. Jefferson nickels dated 1942 to 1945 with a large mint mark over Monticello are 35% silver “war nickels”. For more, see our rare coins value list and error and variety coins guide.
Dimes and Quarters
Barber dimes and quarters (1892–1916), Mercury dimes (1916–1945), Roosevelt dimes from 1946 to 1964, Standing Liberty quarters (1916–1930) and Washington quarters from 1932 to 1964 are all 90% silver. Worn common dates trade on silver value, while key dates such as the 1916-D Mercury dime, the 1916 Standing Liberty quarter and the 1932-D and 1932-S Washington quarters carry large premiums. Starting in 1965, the U.S. Mint struck dimes and quarters in copper-nickel clad.
See our guides to 90% silver coin values, buying and selling 90% silver coins and the junk silver bag.
Half Dollars and Silver Dollars
Walking Liberty halves (1916–1947), Franklin halves (1948–1963) and the 1964 Kennedy half are 90% silver; Kennedy halves from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver. Early-date Walkers in high grades and Franklins with full bell lines bring the strongest premiums.
Silver dollars are among the most collected U.S. coins. Morgan dollars were struck from 1878 to 1904 and again in 1921, and Peace dollars from 1921 to 1935. Each holds about three-quarters of an ounce of silver, so even common dates have a solid melt floor, while Carson City (CC) coins, low-mintage dates and gem grades are worth much more. For date-by-date detail, see our Morgan silver dollar price guide, silver dollar price guide and U.S. silver dollar values.
U.S. Gold Coins
The U.S. struck gold coins for circulation until 1933, from the tiny gold dollar to the $20 double eagle. Popular types include the Liberty Head and Indian Head $2.50 quarter eagles and $5 half eagles, the Liberty and Indian Head $10 eagles, and the Liberty Head and Saint-Gaudens $20 double eagles. Every pre-1933 gold coin is worth at least its gold content, and common dates in nice condition trade a modest premium above melt. Better dates, Carson City and other branch-mint issues, and gem grades can be worth many times their gold value.
Learn more in our U.S. gold coin values guide or see how we buy U.S. gold coins.
Proof Sets, Mint Sets, Commemoratives and Errors
Modern proof and mint sets are valued by year and condition; see our U.S. proof set values. Classic and modern commemoratives are covered in commemorative coin values. Error coins and die varieties such as doubled dies, off-center strikes and wrong-planchet errors can be worth far more than normal coins; learn how to spot them in our error coins and variety coins guide.
What Drives the Value of a U.S. Coin
Two coins of the same series can differ in value by a factor of a hundred or more. These are the factors a professional looks at first:
- Date and mintage. Fewer coins struck, or fewer surviving, usually means a higher value. Survival matters as much as mintage: many coins were melted over the years.
- Mint mark. A small letter shows where the coin was struck: P (Philadelphia, often no mark on older coins), D (Denver), S (San Francisco), O (New Orleans), CC (Carson City) or W (West Point). The same date can be common from one mint and rare from another.
- Grade. Condition is graded on the 1 to 70 Sheldon grading scale, from Poor-1 to perfect Mint State-70. See Wikipedia’s coin grading overview, and our guide to coin authenticity and grading.
- Certification. Coins authenticated and graded by PCGS or NGC and sealed in a tamper-evident holder are easier to sell and usually bring stronger prices. As a PCGS and NGC authorized dealer and ANACS submission center, we can tell you whether grading is worth the fee and submit coins for you.
- Eye appeal. Strong strike, original luster and attractive toning can lift a coin above others in the same grade; spots, scratches and harsh cleaning pull it down. Never clean a coin before selling it.
- Metal content. Silver and gold coins have a melt-value floor that moves with the spot price. For common silver and gold coins, metal value is often most of the price.
How to Read a Coin Price Guide (and What a Dealer Will Pay)
Published price guides are useful, but each one measures something different. The three most widely used for U.S. coins are the PCGS Price Guide, the NGC Price Guide and the Greysheet, a wholesale pricing reference used in the coin trade.
PCGS explains that its listed prices “are average dealer asking prices for PCGS-graded coins” and are “just a guide, a starting point for asserting value” (PCGS Price Guide). In other words, a retail guide shows roughly what you might pay a dealer to buy a certified coin, not what a dealer will pay you to buy it.
Keep these points in mind when you look up a coin:
- Find the right line. Match the exact date, mint mark and variety. A 1909 Lincoln cent and a 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent sit a few lines apart in the guide and are worth very different amounts.
- Be honest about grade. Guide columns run from about Good-4 to Mint State-70. Most coins from circulation fall in the lower columns, and a single grade point can change the value of a high-grade coin by thousands of dollars.
- Certified vs. raw. PCGS and NGC values assume a coin certified by that service. An uncertified (“raw”) coin of uncertain grade usually trades for less.
- Retail vs. what you receive. A dealer buys at a price that leaves room to resell, so offers are normally below retail guide values, especially for common coins. Rare, high-demand coins often trade closer to guide.
- Common coins in bulk. Worn common-date silver coins usually trade on their silver content, not on per-coin guide values.
The most accurate way to learn what your coins will bring is a professional appraisal based on today’s market.
Approximate Guide Values for Common U.S. Type Coins
To show how grade changes value, here are approximate retail guide values for common-date, PCGS-graded examples of popular U.S. type coins, taken from the PCGS Price Guide as of Oct. 24, 2026. They are average dealer asking prices for certified coins, not American Rarities offers, and they change often. Key dates, varieties and raw coins are valued differently.
| Coin type (common date) | XF-40 | MS-63 | MS-65 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cents (PCGS source) | |||
| Indian Head cent (brown) | $13 | $65 | $165 |
| Lincoln wheat cent (red) | – | $7 | $17 |
| Nickels (PCGS source) | |||
| Liberty Head nickel | $50 | $175 | $475 |
| Buffalo nickel (Type 2) | $9 | $42 | $75 |
| Silver dimes, quarters, halves and dollars (PCGS source) | |||
| Barber dime | $55 | $265 | $500 |
| Mercury dime | $10 | $28 | $65 |
| Barber quarter | $125 | $475 | $800 |
| Standing Liberty quarter (Type 2b) | $80 | $375 | $575 |
| Washington quarter (silver) | $20 | $25 | $30 |
| Walking Liberty half dollar | $52 | $120 | $180 |
| Franklin half dollar | $37 | $44 | $46 |
| 1964 Kennedy half dollar | $36 | $38 | $60 |
| Morgan silver dollar | $92 | $110 | $185 |
| Peace silver dollar | $90 | $100 | $175 |
| Gold (PCGS source) | |||
| Indian Head $2.50 | $675 | $850 | $2,000 |
| Liberty Head $5 (with motto) | $1,175 | $1,350 | $2,750 |
| Indian Head $5 | $1,255 | $1,750 | $12,000 |
| Indian Head $10 (with motto) | $2,155 | $2,750 | $4,000 |
| Liberty Head $20 (Type 3) | $4,190 | $4,375 | $5,500 |
| Saint-Gaudens $20 (with motto) | $4,230 | $4,310 | $4,600 |
Source: PCGS Price Guide, as of Oct. 24, 2026. XF-40 = Extremely Fine, MS-63 = Choice Uncirculated, MS-65 = Gem Uncirculated. Where PCGS lists two figures for a grade, the lower is shown. PCGS notes that coins listed under $10 are valued as raw coins.
Why date and mint mark matter: in the same PCGS Lincoln wheat cent guide (as of Oct. 24, 2026), a 1909 VDB cent lists at about $18 in Good-4, while a 1909-S VDB lists at about $875 in Good-4 and about $1,500 in XF-40. A 1914-D lists at about $185 in Good-4. A single letter under the date can be worth hundreds of dollars.
Melt Value: The Floor for Silver and Gold Coins
For silver and gold coins, melt value is the floor under the price. Melt value is the metal content multiplied by the current silver spot price or gold spot price. As a dated example, silver was about $54.05 and gold about $3,997 per troy ounce on October 24, 2026. Spot prices change throughout the day, so recheck before you sell.
| Coin | Pure metal per coin | Melt value at Oct. 24, 2026 example prices |
|---|---|---|
| Dime (90% silver, 1964 and earlier) | 0.0723 oz silver | ≈ $3.91 |
| Quarter (90% silver, 1964 and earlier) | 0.1808 oz silver | ≈ $9.77 |
| Half dollar (90% silver, 1964 and earlier) | 0.3617 oz silver | ≈ $19.55 |
| Kennedy half dollar (40% silver, 1965–1970) | 0.1479 oz silver | ≈ $7.99 |
| Morgan or Peace silver dollar | 0.7734 oz silver | ≈ $41.80 |
| $5 gold half eagle (pre-1933) | 0.2419 oz gold | ≈ $967 |
| $10 gold eagle (pre-1933) | 0.4838 oz gold | ≈ $1,934 |
| $20 gold double eagle (pre-1933) | 0.9675 oz gold | ≈ $3,867 |
Metal content as minted, in troy ounces. Source: NGC coin melt values. Worn silver coins hold slightly less. See current figures in our coin melt value table. Melt value is not an offer; collector premiums can put a coin well above melt.
Get a Free, No-Obligation Market Appraisal
A price guide can tell you roughly what a coin is worth. An appraisal tells you what it will bring today. At American Rarities, our offers are based on the current wholesale and collector market for each coin, and we explain how we arrived at them.
Why sellers choose American Rarities
- Rare coin dealer since 1990, with more than 30 years in business and over $350 million in coins, currency and precious metals purchased
- Rated 4.7 on Google from 86 reviews and A+ with the Better Business Bureau
- Life Members of the American Numismatic Association (ANA)
- PCGS and NGC authorized dealer and ANACS submission center
- IRS-compliant written appraisals, usually within 24–48 hours
- Home visits through our nationwide buying network, or fully insured mail-in with no deductible, with free or discounted shipping on selected collections
- Immediate payment by company check, wire or ACH
How to Get Your Free U.S. Coin Appraisal in 3 Simple Steps
Our process is designed to be fast, easy and stress-free.
Send us your inventory: Email or text photos or an inventory list of your U.S. coins, or use the contact form below.
Receive your free written appraisal: One of our numismatists will reply with a free, IRS-compliant written appraisal, usually within 24–48 hours, and a no-obligation purchase offer.
Get paid immediately: If you accept, ship with our fully insured mail-in service (no deductible) or ask about a home visit for larger collections. We pay immediately by company check, ACH or wire transfer.
Immediate Payment for Your U.S. Coins
Price Guide for U.S. Coins: Quick Answers
Is a coin price guide value what a dealer will pay me?
Usually not. Retail guides list average dealer asking prices. Dealers buy below retail, though rare, in-demand coins often sell close to guide.
What makes a U.S. coin valuable?
Date and mintage, mint mark, grade, certification, eye appeal and, for silver and gold, metal content. Key dates, errors and top grades bring the most.
Are old U.S. coins worth more than melt value?
Many are. Worn common silver and gold trade near melt, but scarce dates, mint marks and high grades can be worth many times their metal.
Free Coin Appraisal and Rare Coin Values
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