Series guide · Odd denominations

Two-Cent Pieces: Collecting America's Shortest Bronze Series

The two-cent piece lasted barely a decade, was struck only at Philadelphia, and is the first US coin to carry the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. It's an ideal small set: short enough to finish, old enough to feel like real 19th-century history, and quirky enough that non-collectors always ask about it.

A short history

The two-cent piece appeared during the Civil War, when hoarding had pulled most hard money out of circulation and small change was scarce. It was introduced in 1864 alongside the switch of the cent from copper-nickel to bronze — the same change we cover in Indian Head cent types. Production was high at first, then fell quickly as other small denominations arrived and the coin proved unnecessary. The Coinage Act of 1873 ended the denomination.

Struck

1864–1873

Designer

James B. Longacre

Metal

Bronze (95% copper)

Mint

Philadelphia only

That short life is what makes the series so collectible. There are only ten years to think about, no mintmarks to chase, and a clear story arc from wartime necessity to quiet retirement.

Design and identification

Longacre, who also designed the Indian Head cent, gave the two-cent piece a heraldic look rather than a portrait:

• Obverse: a shield with crossed arrows behind it and laurel branches at the sides, the date below, and a ribbon above reading IN GOD WE TRUST.
• Reverse: the denomination, 2 CENTS, inside a wreath of wheat, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the border.

The shield design will look familiar if you know the Shield nickel, which followed a couple of years later and used a similar motif. It's easy to tell them apart: the two-cent piece is bronze (brown or reddish) and says 2 CENTS; the Shield nickel is silvery copper-nickel and shows a 5.

The date run

A complete date set is short. Most albums include the two 1864 varieties and the proof-only 1873, though some collectors build the circulation-strike set without the 1873.

If all you want is one representative coin for a type set, any common 1864 Large Motto through 1868 piece in nice original condition is perfect. Our early type coin guide and the broader type set guide explain how to choose type coins for appearance rather than date.

Small Motto vs Large Motto

In 1864 the motto on the ribbon was struck in two sizes of lettering. The Large Motto is the common version; the Small Motto is scarcer and costs more. Telling them apart reliably takes a side-by-side comparison of the lettering in the ribbon, and worn coins make it harder. Use a good reference photo or an attribution guide and a loupe, and if you're paying a Small Motto premium, buy a coin that has been attributed by a major grading service.

Before buying either, look at completed Small Motto sales next to completed Large Motto sales in the same grade. That shows you how the market treats the difference without anyone quoting you a price.

1872 and the proof-only 1873

1872 was the last year two-cent pieces were struck for circulation, and production was small. It's the date that most often stays empty in an album. Buy it certified or from a dealer with a solid return policy, and check the date carefully — altered dates exist on many 19th-century keys.

1873 two-cent pieces were struck only as proofs, for collectors. They come in Closed 3 and Open 3 varieties, named for the shape of the final digit. Proofs have mirrored fields and sharp details. They're a specialized purchase, and many collectors finish the series at 1872 and are perfectly happy.

Color, wear and problems

Copper color

Bronze coins start out bright orange-red and mellow to brown over time. Grading services describe this with color designations — Red (RD), Red-Brown (RB) and Brown (BN). For most collectors, attractive, even brown or red-brown coins are the best value and the most stable. Full red coins are scarce for this series and are a specialist pursuit; bright coins that look “too red” for their wear have often been cleaned or recolored.

Where wear shows

• Obverse: the motto on the ribbon, especially the word WE, the leaves of the laurel branches, and the horizontal lines and outline of the shield.
• Reverse: the wheat grains in the wreath and the bow at the bottom.

Readability of the full motto is a handy quick check: the more clearly it reads, the less wear the coin has. Our wear points by series article covers the general approach.

Problems to avoid

• Cleaning and recoloring. Look for unnatural color, hairlines, or a coin that is bright in the recesses but worn on the high points. See why not to clean old coins.
• Corrosion and verdigris. Green spots or crusty patches are active corrosion. Don't scrub them; consult a numismatic conservator for anything worth saving.
• PVC residue. Old soft flips can leave a green film on copper. Move coins into inert holders; see PVC risk and archival alternatives.
• Altered 1872 dates. Inspect the last digit closely under magnification.

Pairing it with other Civil War-era small change

The two-cent piece belongs to a fascinating period when the Mint experimented with several small denominations at once. Many collectors enjoy displaying it alongside its neighbors rather than on its own:

• The three-cent silver piece (1851–1873), a tiny silver coin that ended in the same year as the two-cent piece.
• The three-cent nickel (1865–1889), introduced while the two-cent piece was still being struck.
• The Shield nickel (1866–1883), which shares the shield motif.
• The bronze Indian Head cent, introduced in 1864 in the same alloy.

A small “odd denominations” tray with one well-chosen example of each tells the story of a crowded era of American change better than any single coin can. It also gives a short series like the two-cent piece room to grow into a larger project. If that appeals to you, choose each coin in a similar grade and color range so the group looks deliberate. Our grade vs eye appeal article explains why matching appearance often matters more than matching the number on a label.

Building the set

1. Start with a common 1864 Large Motto or 1865 to learn what natural color and wear look like.
2. Fill 1866 to 1871 one coin at a time, matching color and grade so the set looks cohesive.
3. Attribute your Small Motto before paying a premium for it.
4. Buy the 1872 last, certified, after you've seen enough coins to recognize a good one.
5. Decide on 1873 separately; it's a proof purchase with its own criteria.

A small album or a row of capsules suits a set this short. A two-cent piece album page or a set of 23mm coin capsules keeps each coin separate and protected; check the capsule size against a coin you own before you buy a box.