1870 Two Cent Piece
Base
About This Coin
The 1870 Two Cent Piece is a United States cent from the Two Cent Pieces 1864-1873 series — 7th of 10 years in the series. In 1870, coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a combined mintage of 862,250. This ranks 4th of 10 years by total mintage, below 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. Only about 861,000 struck, reflecting the denomination's waning relevance. Struck in bronze, weighing 6.22 grams, 23 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Produced 3 years before the celebrated 1873 key date. Across its variants, estimated values range from $50 to $1.1K depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $6.6K in PR67 grade at Superior Galleries. 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.
