Two Cent Piece
Two Cent Piece
Though coins might appear to be everyday objects with which people should be familiar, there are some that just fall through the metaphorical cracks. The two cent piece is one such. Introduced during the Civil War, it was never popular, and minting was soon discontinued.
It must be remembered that the demand for two cent piece was always rather small, which meant that it was not mass produced in the large mints. Rather, two cent piece was minted in smaller quantities at relatively tiny establishments. The two cent piece coins were rare to begin with, and are of very high value now. The coins were, like the one-cent coin, mostly made of copper, plus small amounts of tin and zinc. They were about six and a quarter grams in mass.
Now, we may discuss the design of the coins. The two cent piece was designed by James Longacre, the same man who conceived of the prototype for the Indian Head Cent, based on the profile of his own daughter. This coin is interesting because it has no figures on it, of individuals real or imaginary. On what would have been the “head” side, the design is centered on a large shield over two crossed arrows. Below the shield is the year of minting.
The shield is surrounded by a wreath, open end downwards. The motto “In God We Trust” is inscribed on a ribbon across the two cent piece coin’s top rim. Indeed, the two cent piece is the first American coin to have this motto written on it. On the two cent piece coin’s reverse side, we find the central phrase “2 Cents” (note that the numerical symbol is used, rather than the word “two”, surrounded by a wreath, which is in turn bounded by the words “United States of America.”
Two Cent Piece Fair Market Values in U.S. Dollars (1864-1873)
| Date/Type | G4 | VG8 | F12 | VF20 | XF40 | AU50 | AU53 | AU55 | AU58 | MS60 | PR60 (Proof) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *1864 Sm Motto BN | $132 | $204 | $300 | $462 | $640 | $670 | $690 | $760 | $820 | $1,020 | $17,500 |
| 1864 Sm Motto RB | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | $1,050 | -- |
| 1864 BN | $16 | $17 | $24 | $29 | $48 | $72 | $76 | $83 | $92 | $97 | $420 |
| 1864 RB | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | $108 | -- |
| 1865 BN | $16 | $17 | $25 | $30 | $48 | $70 | $76 | $84 | $94 | $98 | $360 |
| 1865 RB | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | $108 | -- |
| 1866 BN | $16 | $17 | $24 | $29 | $47 | $70 | $77 | $84 | $92 | $108 | $324 |
| 1866 RB | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | $114 | -- |
| 1867 BN | $16 | $17 | $24 | $30 | $47 | $71 | $77 | $89 | $92 | $106 | $360 |
| 1867 RB | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | $112 | -- |
| 1868 BN | $17 | $20 | $25 | $32 | $52 | $83 | $88 | $96 | $114 | $126 | $360 |
| 1868 RB | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | $132 | -- |
| 1869 BN | $17 | $21 | $28 | $37 | $58 | $97 | $109 | $120 | $132 | $138 | $324 |
| 1869 RB | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | $150 | -- |
| *1869 Recut Date BN | $150 | $228 | $330 | $432 | $630 | $920 | $950 | $1,080 | -- | -- | -- |
| 1870 BN | $18 | $23 | $31 | $41 | $90 | $150 | $168 | $198 | $234 | $252 | $324 |
| 1870 RB | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | $264 | -- |
| 1871 BN | $18 | $25 | $38 | $61 | $108 | $162 | $180 | $222 | $240 | $252 | $324 |
| 1871 RB | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | $258 | -- |
| *1872 BN | $330 | $402 | $480 | $680 | $1,030 | $1,140 | $1,230 | $1,290 | $1,470 | $1,620 | $420 |
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