1872 Two Cent Piece
Base
About This Coin
The 1872 Two Cent Piece is a United States cent from the Two Cent Pieces 1864-1873 series — a late issue, 9th of 10 years in the series. In 1872, coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a combined mintage of 65,950. This represents the second-lowest annual mintage in the series, 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 65,000 pieces struck, the key circulation-strike date. Scarce in any grade. Struck in bronze, weighing 6.22 grams, 23 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Struck one year before the 1873 key date, the lowest-mintage regular issue in the series. Across its variants, estimated values range from $498 to $4.7K depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $10K in MS66 grade at Stack's. 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.
