Years
Designer
James B. Longacre
Composition
95% copper, 5% tin and zinc
Diameter
23 mm
Mass
6.22 g
Thickness
1.8 mm
Edge
Plain
Mints
Philadelphia
Metal
Bronze
Design
Union shield with a ribbon IN GOD WE TRUST — the motto’s first appearance on U.S. coinage. Reverse a wheat wreath around 2 CENTS.
History
Struck in the last year of the Civil War to relieve a small-change shortage caused by hoarding. The motto was a wartime religious turn; Chase and Congress put it on this denomination first. The coin was never popular once cents returned in volume, and mintages collapsed after 1871. 1873 is proof-only. Large and small motto varieties of 1864 are the first-year collectible split.
Key dates
Varieties
1864-P · 1864 Small Motto
design · key
10 issues