The Two Cent coin is another type of U.S. coin which had a short lifespan. Two Cent pieces were distributed only from 1864 through 1872. Proof coins alone were issued during 1873, the year that the coin was abolished.

Two Cent coins were the first to bear the motto "In God We Trust" which is now featured on all U.S. coinage.

This coin was introduced during the Civil War. Major reasons for issuing the piece were to save metal and to relieve a critical shortage of small coins. It circulated widely, but as mintage of the normal coin denominations resumed after the war, it quickly went out of use.

The Design...

The obverse of Two Cent coins display the Union shield lying on top of crossed arrows and a laurel (or olive) wreath. A scroll above contains the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST." The date is at the bottom, below the shield. A dentil border along the rim surrounds the whole. The design is usually sharply struck, with wear tending to occur first on the leaf tips, arrowheads and on the word WE at the center of the scroll.

The reverse depicts a wreath of wheat stalks surrounding the words "2 CENTS." The words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" surround the wreath. As on the obverse, a dentil border runs along the rim.

The edge of the coin is plain (non-reeded), and its diameter is 23 mm. The weight of an undamaged Two Cent piece should be 6.22 grams (95% copper and 5% zinc/tin mixture).

All Two Cent pieces were struck at the Philadelphia mint, and thus none bears a mint mark.

Variations...

There are two sizes of motto on the coins of 1864. The more common is the motto featuring larger lettering. There is also a rare doubled motto on some coins of 1867.

For the 1873 proofs, there are two variations: In the first type, the 3 in the date is closed (which supposedly led to complaints that it looked like an 8). In the second, the 3 is open. The open variety is the rarer. There has been some debate as to whether the open 3 on these coins was not intentional, but rather caused by a weak strike or by a restrike.

The coin design was given a light reworking in 1871, but the differences are extremely minor.

Slight variations are common in the appearance of dates on these coins. Over-struck dates are also known for 1865 (over 1864) and 1869 (over 1868).

Mintage Figures...

• 1864 (P): 19,847,500
  1864 (P - proof): 100
• 1865 (P): 13,640,000
  1865 (P - proof): 500
• 1866 (P): 3,177,000
  1866 (P - proof): 725
• 1867 (P): 2,938,750
  1867 (P - proof): 625
• 1868 (P): 2,803,750
  1868 (P - proof): 600
• 1869 (P): 1,546,500
  1869 (P - proof): 600
• 1870 (P): 861,250
  1870 (P - proof): 1000
• 1871 (P): 721,250
  1871 (P - proof): 960
• 1872 (P): 65,000
  1872 (P - proof): 950
• 1873 (P - proof): 1000

(figures for proofs are approximate)

All-in-all, the U.S. Two Cent coins are an unusual, obsolete design type which is still relatively easy to add to collections. Because it was struck and circulated in large quantities during the early years, affordable examples can be still found. A strange coin with an interesting history, the Two Cent seldom fails to pique the interest of young and old alike.

Other subjects on which I've written recent Guides...
Other Collectible Coins
Gemstones

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