1871 2C, BN VF35BN Certification #47596859, PCGS #3609

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

The Act of April 22, 1864, which changed the weight and composition of the cent, including a provision for a bronze two-cent piece. The weight was specified at 96 grains, the alloy being the same as for the cent. The two-cent piece is one of the shortest-lived issues of the United States. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST appeared for the first time on the new coin, with the support of Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase. The shield device is very similar to that on the nickel five-cent piece introduced in 1866.

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

The 1871 Two-Cent piece is the last of the high-mintage dates in this series. Though it's mintage was less than a million pieces, this date survives in Mint State to nearly the same extent as other dates with much higher mintages except for the 1864 and 1865.

Red-Brown examples are plentiful up through MS64, above which the populations drop off, ending at MS66, where a single example is noted.

Red examples are scarce, and are usually found in MS64 and MS65. Here, the best examples include two in MS66RD.

PCGS #

3609

Designer

James Barton Longacre

Edge

Plain

Diameter

23.00 millimeters

Weight

6.22 grams

Mintage

721250

Metal

Bronze

Pop Higher

698

Pop Lower

172

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	3000	R-4.4	5 / 11 TIE	5 / 11 TIE
All Grades	1250	R-4.9	9 / 11	9 / 11
60 or Better	20	R-9.1	3 / 11 TIE	3 / 11 TIE

Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.
65 or Better	3000
All Grades	1250
60 or Better	20

Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.
65 or Better	R-4.4
All Grades	R-4.9
60 or Better	R-9.1

Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	5 / 11 TIE
All Grades	9 / 11
60 or Better	3 / 11 TIE

Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	5 / 11 TIE
All Grades	9 / 11
60 or Better	3 / 11 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Thumbnail	Pedigree and History
1	MS65+BN PCGS grade
2	MS65BN PCGS grade
2	MS65BN PCGS grade
2	MS65BN PCGS grade
2	MS65BN PCGS grade

#1 MS65+BN PCGS grade

#2 MS65BN PCGS grade