1865 Two Cent Piece
Base
About This Coin
The 1865 Two Cent Piece is a United States cent from the Two Cent Pieces 1864-1873 series — the second year of the series. In 1865, coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a combined mintage of 40.9 million. This represents the highest annual mintage in the entire series, above the series median of 2.2 million. The obverse features a shield with a banner inscribed IN GOD WE TRUST — the first U.S. coin to bear this motto and the reverse displays a wreath enclosing 2 CENTS. Second-year mintage dropped to approximately 13.6 million as Civil War demand eased. Struck in bronze, weighing 6.22 grams, 23 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Collectors have cataloged 22 known die varieties for this date across 3 categories, including cud, pre-cud, retained cud. Produced 8 years before the celebrated 1873 key date. Across its variants, estimated values range from $25 to $612 depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $9.1K in PR66BNCAM grade at Legend Rare Coin Auctions. Designed by James Barton Longacre.
Value Estimates
Values as of May 2026 — range across all strike types, reflecting typical grades (G-4 through MS-63). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.
