Design and Specifications of the Two Cent

The Two Cent piece was introduced during the Civil War to help alleviate coin shortages. It was the first U.S. coin to bear the motto ‘IN GOD WE TRUST’, which later became standard on all U.S. coins. The series was short-lived due to the unpopularity of the denomination and the return of other coins to circulation after the war.
Weight 6.22 grams
Diameter 23 mm
Mint Marks No mint marks used; all coins were minted in Philadelphia
Composition 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc
Obverse Design Shield with crossed arrows and olive branches, surrounded by a wreath, with the motto 'IN GOD WE TRUST' above, designed by James B. Longacre
Reverse Design The denomination '2 CENTS' within a wheat wreath, designed by James B. Longacre
Years of Minting 1864-1873

Collectibility and Rare Varieties

The condition of Two Cent pieces greatly affects their value, with uncirculated examples commanding significant premiums. The 1864 Small Motto variety and the low-mintage 1872 and 1873 issues are particularly valuable. Errors such as doubled dies or off-center strikes can also increase a coin’s rarity and value.
1872 65,000 minted; key date of the series, rare in all grades
1873 1,100 minted; proof only, extremely rare
1864 Large Motto 19,847,500 minted; common date but scarce in high grades
1864 Small Motto Mintage unknown; rare variety, especially in higher grades

Explore Two Cent Values by Year

1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873

Most Valuable Two Cent

This section highlights the most valuable coins in the series, based on PCGS price guides. The table shows price ranges for each coin in various conditions.

Coin Name Circulated Price Uncirculated Price
1864 Two Cents Small Motto, BN (Regular Strike) $75.00 – $1,700.00 –
1865 Two Cents, BN (Regular Strike) $21.00 – $145.00 –
1864 Two Cents Small Motto, BN (Proof) – $12,500.00 – $62,500.00
1868 Two Cents, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $255.00 –
1865 Two Cents Plain 5, RB (Regular Strike) – $330.00 – $4,500.00
1867 Two Cents, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $180.00 –
1864 Two Cents Large Motto, BN (Regular Strike) $21.00 – $145.00 –
1869 Two Cents, BN (Regular Strike) $21.00 – $275.00 –
1866 Two Cents, RB (Regular Strike) – $220.00 – $5,500.00
1870 Two Cents, BN (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $320.00 –
1872 Two Cents, BN (Regular Strike) $210.00 – $3,300.00 –
1867 Two Cents Doubled Die Obverse, BN (Regular Strike) $125.00 – $2,100.00 –
1866 Two Cents, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $165.00 –
1871 Two Cents, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $315.00 –
1869 Two Cents, RB (Proof) – $375.00 – $13,000.00
1872 Two Cents, BN (Proof) $180.00 – $325.00 –
1864 Two Cents Large Motto, BN (Proof) – $400.00 – $8,000.00
1870 Two Cents, BN (Proof) – $340.00 – $8,750.00
1864 Two Cents Large Motto, RB (Regular Strike) – $160.00 – $11,000.00
1865 Two Cents Plain 5, BN (Regular Strike) $27.00 – $145.00 –
1866 Two Cents, BN (Proof) – $340.00 – $2,950.00
1871 Two Cents, BN (Proof) $290.00 – $300.00 –
1873 Two Cents Closed 3, BN (Proof) $1,150.00 – $2,525.00 –
1868 Two Cents, BN (Proof) – $340.00 – $5,750.00
1865 Two Cents Fancy 5, BN (Regular Strike) $24.00 – $180.00 –
1865 Two Cents, BN (Proof) – $340.00 – $9,750.00
1867 Two Cents, BN (Proof) – $340.00 – $5,250.00
1869 Two Cents, BN (Proof) – $340.00 – $5,500.00
1873 Two Cents Open 3, BN (Proof) $1,575.00 – $1,650.00 –
1864 Two Cents Small Motto, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,850.00 – $11,250.00
1864 Two Cents Small Motto, RD (Regular Strike) – $3,750.00 – $41,000.00
1864 Two Cents Large Motto, RD (Regular Strike) – $200.00 – $27,500.00
1864 Two Cents DDO FS-1101, BN (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $160.00 –
1864 Two Cents DDO FS-1101, RD (Regular Strike) – $500.00 – $2,350.00
1864 Two Cents DDO FS-1101, BN (Regular Strike) $26.00 – $160.00 –
1864 Two Cents LM RPD FS-1302, BN (Regular Strike) $150.00 – $170.00 –
1864 Two Cents FS-1901 Clash w/ Ind. 1C, BN (Regular Strike) $275.00 – $435.00 –
1864 Two Cents FS-1901 Clash w/ Ind. 1C, RB (Regular Strike) – $650.00 – $2,750.00
1864 Two Cents FS-1901 Clash w/ Ind. 1C, RD (Regular Strike) – $800.00 – $5,500.00
1864 Two Cents LM RPD FS-1303, BN (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $155.00 –
1864 Two Cents LM RPD FS-1303, RB (Regular Strike) – $400.00 – $2,250.00
1864 Two Cents LM RPD FS-1304, BN (Regular Strike) $200.00 – $560.00 –
1864 Two Cents Die Clash FS-1401, BN (Regular Strike) $230.00 – $420.00 –
1864 Two Cents Small Motto FS-401, BN (Regular Strike) $175.00 – $1,700.00 –
1864 Two Cents Small Motto FS-401, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,800.00 – $11,250.00
1864 Two Cents Small Motto FS-401, RD (Regular Strike) – $3,750.00 – $23,500.00
1865 Two Cents, RB (Regular Strike) – $160.00 – $11,000.00
1865 Two Cents, RD (Regular Strike) – $300.00 – $30,000.00
1865 Two Cents Plain 5, RD (Regular Strike) – $975.00 – $27,500.00
1865 Two Cents Fancy 5, RB (Regular Strike) – $200.00 – $5,000.00
1865 Two Cents Fancy 5, RD (Regular Strike) – $300.00 – $27,500.00
1865 Two Cents DDO FS-101, RB (Regular Strike) – $375.00 – $875.00
1866 Two Cents, RD (Regular Strike) – $575.00 – $22,500.00
1867 Two Cents, RB (Regular Strike) – $210.00 – $3,600.00
1867 Two Cents, RD (Regular Strike) – $250.00 – $26,500.00
1867 Two Cents Doubled Die Obverse, RB (Regular Strike) – $5,250.00 – $23,500.00
1867 Two Cents Doubled Die Obverse, RD (Regular Strike) – $19,000.00 – $35,000.00
1867 Two Cents DDO FS-101, BN (Regular Strike) $125.00 – $2,100.00 –
1867 Two Cents DDO FS-101, RD (Regular Strike) – $19,000.00 – $30,000.00
1868 Two Cents, RB (Regular Strike) – $300.00 – $8,750.00
1868 Two Cents, RD (Regular Strike) – $800.00 – $60,000.00
1868 Two Cents RPD FS-303, BN (Regular Strike) $100.00 – $300.00 –
1869 Two Cents, RB (Regular Strike) – $350.00 – $11,000.00
1869 Two Cents, RD (Regular Strike) – $1,050.00 – $26,000.00
1869 Two Cents MPD & RPD FS-301, BN (Regular Strike) $110.00 – $290.00 –
1869 Two Cents MPD & RPD FS-301, RB (Regular Strike) – $750.00 – $1,800.00
1869 Two Cents MPD & RPD FS-301, RD (Regular Strike) – $1,200.00 – $5,500.00
1869 Two Cents RPD FS-302, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $290.00 –
1869 Two Cents RPD FS-302, RB (Regular Strike) – $360.00 – $3,250.00
1870 Two Cents, RB (Regular Strike) – $375.00 – $5,250.00
1870 Two Cents, RD (Regular Strike) – $425.00 – $45,000.00
1870 Two Cents DDO FS-101, BN (Regular Strike) $135.00 – $330.00 –
1871 Two Cents, RB (Regular Strike) – $385.00 – $12,000.00
1871 Two Cents, RD (Regular Strike) – $425.00 – $47,500.00
1871 Two Cents DDO FS-101, BN (Regular Strike) $210.00 – $385.00 –
1871 Two Cents DDO FS-103, BN (Regular Strike) $215.00 – $420.00 –
1871 Two Cents RPD FS-301, BN (Regular Strike) $130.00 – $350.00 –
1871 Two Cents RPD FS-301, RB (Regular Strike) – $725.00 – $2,500.00
1871 Two Cents RPD FS-301, RD (Regular Strike) – $9,250.00 – $15,750.00
1872 Two Cents, RB (Regular Strike) – $3,750.00 – $12,500.00
1872 Two Cents, RD (Regular Strike) – $15,000.00 – $85,000.00
1872 Two Cents DDO FS-101 (006), BN (Regular Strike) $1,300.00 – $3,300.00 –
1872 Two Cents DDO FS-101 (006), RB (Regular Strike) – $4,500.00 – $8,500.00
1864 Two Cents Small Motto, RB (Proof) – $57,500.00 – $140,000.00
1864 Two Cents Small Motto, RD (Proof) – $85,000.00 – $145,000.00
1864 Two Cents Large Motto, RB (Proof) – $475.00 – $17,500.00
1864 Two Cents Large Motto, RD (Proof) – $600.00 – $20,000.00
1864 Two Cents Large Motto, CAM (Proof) – $6,000.00 – $38,500.00
1865 Two Cents, RB (Proof) – $375.00 – $13,500.00
1865 Two Cents, RD (Proof) – $575.00 – $16,000.00
1865 Two Cents, CAM (Proof) – $1,750.00 – $19,500.00
1866 Two Cents, RB (Proof) – $375.00 – $6,500.00
1866 Two Cents, RD (Proof) – $575.00 – $10,000.00
1866 Two Cents, CAM (Proof) – $1,750.00 – $19,500.00
1866 Two Cents, DCAM (Proof) – $65,000.00
1867 Two Cents, RB (Proof) – $375.00 – $8,500.00
1867 Two Cents, RD (Proof) – $575.00 – $10,750.00
1867 Two Cents, CAM (Proof) – $1,750.00 – $32,500.00
1868 Two Cents, RB (Proof) – $375.00 – $20,000.00
1868 Two Cents, RD (Proof) – $575.00 – $47,500.00
1868 Two Cents, CAM (Proof) – $525.00 – $65,000.00
1869 Two Cents, RD (Proof) – $575.00 – $36,500.00
1869 Two Cents, CAM (Proof) – $3,850.00 – $10,000.00
1870 Two Cents, RB (Proof) – $375.00 – $5,000.00
1870 Two Cents, RD (Proof) – $575.00 – $35,000.00
1870 Two Cents, CAM (Proof) – $7,000.00 – $27,500.00
1871 Two Cents, RB (Proof) – $375.00 – $13,000.00
1871 Two Cents, RD (Proof) – $575.00 – $40,000.00
1871 Two Cents, CAM (Proof) – $8,500.00 – $65,000.00
1872 Two Cents, RB (Proof) – $600.00 – $11,500.00
1872 Two Cents, RD (Proof) – $825.00 – $35,000.00
1872 Two Cents, CAM (Proof) – $4,000.00 – $5,750.00
1873 Two Cents Closed 3, RB (Proof) – $2,600.00 – $22,500.00
1873 Two Cents Closed 3, RD (Proof) – $2,700.00 – $65,000.00
1873 Two Cents Closed 3, CAM (Proof) – $15,000.00 – $42,500.00
1873 Two Cents Open 3, RB (Proof) – $2,050.00 – $20,000.00
1873 Two Cents Open 3, RD (Proof) – $3,000.00 – $40,000.00
1865 Two Cents DDO FS-101, BN (Regular Strike) $32.00 – $170.00 –
1865 Two Cents DDO FS-102, BN (Regular Strike) – $200.00 – $1,000.00
1865 Two Cents DDO FS-102, RB (Regular Strike) – $275.00 – $4,750.00
1865 Two Cents O/R Die Clash FS-401/901, BN (Regular Strike) $130.00 – $240.00 –
1865 Two Cents Plain 5 RPD FS-301 (002.3), BN (Regular Strike) $70.00 – $200.00 –
1865 Two Cents RPD FS-1301 (002.5), BN (Regular Strike) $27.00 – $140.00 –
1865 Two Cents RPD FS-1301, RB (Regular Strike) – $225.00 – $2,250.00
1865 Two Cents RPD FS-1301, RD (Regular Strike) – $250.00 – $4,850.00
1865 Two Cents RPD FS-1303, BN (Regular Strike) – $175.00
1865 Two Cents MPD FS-1304, BN (Regular Strike) – $175.00
1865 Two Cents MPD FS-1305, BN (Regular Strike) – $175.00

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Chris McPherson is a lifelong collector turned shop owner who opened ChrisMcPherson's Souvenir Shop in 2005. With over 20 years as a professional antique dealer and appraiser, Chris expertly curates a selection of the most unique political, pop culture, and historic collectibles available. His passion is hunting one-of-a-kind artifacts and sharing the fascinating stories behind them. Chris graduated with a BA in American History, informing his specialty in political memorabilia. As a seasoned antique hunter, Chris utilizes his skills to deliver an ever-changing inventory of must-see relics and conversation pieces to his shop.

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