The 1871 Two Cent Piece

Many collectors enjoy pursuing United States odd-denomination coinage like the two cent piece. This unusual denomination, which was struck from 1864 through 1873, has the distinction of being the first U.S. coin to bear the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST.”

Another way the two cent coin stands out is in its overall collectibility. The denomination’s relatively short run of just 10 years plus the fact that it attracts far fewer collectors than, say, more popular series like the Lincoln Cents or Morgan Dollars, means that even the rarer two cent coins can be obtained for relatively affordable prices.

The overall obscurity of the two cent coin – few Americans beyond the numismatic sphere even know the denomination exists – usually leaves the coin to be collected primarily as a type representative. But for the series enthusiasts, and there are many among the ranks of the two cent piece, there is a bevy of cool coins to pursue.

Whether one is collecting the two cent piece as a type issue or as part of a run that entails all the issues (including the many varieties), the 1871 two cent piece sees much demand. It is the last of the high-mintage issues in the series, with the 1871 having been struck to the tune of 721,250. While that six-figure number pales in comparison to the eight-figure outputs of the denomination in the mid-1860s, the 1871 issue saw a much higher emission than in 1872 (which saw only 65,000 business strikes) or 1873 – a “proof only” year for the coin.

As bronze coins tend to go, the two cent is graded with designations of BN (Brown), RB (Red-Brown), and RD (Red) in grades of MS60 or higher. And while circulated examples of the 1871 two cent can be bought for around $100 in F12 or $185 in XF40, the uncirculated examples can be obtained for prices “only” in the hundreds of dollars, too. An MS63BN example fetches about $400 and $700 in MS63RB. Examples in RD do traipse into the four-figure territory, though even that is a decent price considering the estimated survival rate of merely 150 total specimens across all RD-designated examples for this issue.