Two Cent Piece (1864-1873)

The Two Cent Piece was a short lived denomination. It was minted from 1864 to 1873, 9 years. This is one of the coins that did not last 25 years as the Mint requires.

Designer: James B. Longacre

Composition: .950 Copper, .050 Tin and Zinc

History
The Two Cent Piece was the first coin to show the Motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" on an United States coin. The Civil War was 21 months old. Many people hoarded all the coins of any denomination they could find. Some inventive people created



the idea of a copper cent-sized coin, called the "Civil War Token". They gained acceptance into circulation.

With the success of the Civil War Tokens, the Mint chose to put the Indian Cent on a thinner planchet than the big, bulky ones they were being produced on. They also chose that there should be a Two Cent Piece.

There were two designs for the Two Cent Piece. One had a portrait of George Washington. The other had a shield with arrows. The Mint chose the latter.

Then, in 1861, Rev. Mark R. Watkinson proposed a plan to put a phrase on future coins, starting with the Two Cent Piece, that mentions God. "This would relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism. This would place us openly under the Divine protection we have personally claimed," said the Reverend.

Some thoughts of that phrase were "GOD OUR TRUST" and "IN DEO SPERAMUS", which means "In God We Hope". The Mint then decided on "IN GOD WE TRUST", possibly a mix of both. (This is also known as the "Motto" by collectors.)

The Two Cent Piece was authorized on April 22, 1864. IN GOD WE TRUST was not required on every denomination until 1955.

IN GOD WE TRUST is inscribed in a ribbon on top of the shield on the Obverse. The date is below the shield. On the Rerverse, 2 CENTS is surrounded by a wheat wreath. The wheat wreath is surrounded by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

The Two Cent Piece has some neat varieties. Perhaps the most known variety is the Small and Large Motto from 1864 (Small being rare). Some other years has the Motto having skinny or fat lettering. In 1867, there was an error that was a pretty noticable Doubled-Die.

There was just over 45.6 Business Strikes in all and a little over 7,000 Proofs.

Year-By-Year Guide
1864-19,822,500

1865-13,640,000

1866-3,177,000

1867-2,938,750

1868-2,803,750

1869-1,546,500

1870-861,250

1871-721,250

1872-65,000

1873, Close 3 (Proofs Only)-Estimated 600

1873, Open 3 (Proofs Only)-Estimated 500

Resources
PCGS Photograde (Photos)

Coin Community Family (Information)