Odd-Denomination Two-Cent & Three-Cent Variety Studio
Attribute James B. Longacre's obsolete fractional masterpieces. Compare 1864 Small Motto vs Large Motto Two-Cent bronzes, dissect Silver Trime Type 1, 2, and 3 star outlines, and inspect 3-Cent Nickel overdates.
Obsolete Coin Target
2¢ Bronze (1864)The Civil War Coin Shortage of 1861–1865
With the outbreak of the American Civil War, greenback fiat paper depreciated rapidly against precious metal specie. Citizens hoarded coins, driving fractional silver out of circulation. The 2-cent piece was engineered by Mint Director James Pollock to fill the commercial void:
The 1864 Small Motto obverse was a prototype hub designed before final production dies were finalized. Only a small fraction of the 19.8 million 1864 coins were struck with this prototype hub before the bolder Large Motto took over.
Trime & Nickel Diagnostic Markers
- Trime Thickness: At only 0.80 grams, the silver trime is notoriously susceptible to bending and die clash. Genuine unbent coins command a 30% premium.
- 3-Cent Nickel Striking Pressure: Due to the extreme hardness of 75/25 copper-nickel, dies cracked continuously. Look for die cracks radiating through the Roman numeral 'III'.
- 1887/6 Overdate: The crossbar and upper loop of the underdigit '6' protrude distinctly inside the lower loop of the '7'.
Historic Obsolete Coin Auction Realizations
Blazing Full Red Wonder
A legendary prototype hub survivor. Flaming fiery copper-orange mint color with the narrow 'D' and delicate ribbon folds completely pristine.
Superb Gem Silver Trime
The single finest known Type 2 trime. All three nested star outlines are needle-sharp with electric blue and amber perimeter toning.
Proof-Only Final Year Issue
Struck exclusively in proof finish (mintage 600) before the denomination was discontinued by the Coinage Act of 1873. Jet-black cameo contrast.
Frequently Asked Questions: Obsolete Coinage
1. Why were Two-Cent and Three-Cent coins created during the 1850s and 1860s?
The Three-Cent Silver piece (Trime) was introduced by Congress in 1851 to facilitate purchasing newly lowered 3-cent postage stamps without using bulky large copper cents. During the American Civil War (1861-1865), economic panic caused citizens to hoard all gold, silver, and copper coins. In response, Congress authorized the Two-Cent bronze piece in 1864 and the Three-Cent nickel in 1865 to restore circulating fractional coinage.
2. What is the historical significance of the 1864 Two-Cent piece?
The 1864 Two-Cent piece is the very first coin in United States history to feature the national motto "IN GOD WE TRUST". Spurred by religious sentiment during the Civil War, Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase and Mint Director James Pollock instructed Chief Engraver James B. Longacre to engrave the motto onto the ribbon banner above the shield.
3. How do you distinguish the rare 1864 Small Motto Two-Cent from the common Large Motto?
Inspect the letter "D" in "GOD" and the letter "T" in "TRUST" on the obverse banner. On the rare Small Motto variety, the letters are small, narrow, and squat with significant space between the letters and ribbon borders; the "D" is distinctly curved and slender. On the common Large Motto, the letters are tall, thick, and almost touch both upper and lower ribbon folds.
4. What are the three distinct design types of the 3-Cent Silver Trime?
Type 1 (1851-1853): Struck in 75% silver / 25% copper alloy (weight 0.80g), featuring an unadorned star with a single outline. Type 2 (1854-1858): Silver fineness raised to standard 90% (weight reduced to 0.75g) with 3 nested outlines framing the star and an olive sprig added to the reverse "C". Type 3 (1859-1873): Reduced to 2 star outlines with finer, more delicate engraving.
5. Why was the Three-Cent Nickel issued when the Three-Cent Silver coin already existed?
During the Civil War, silver trimes vanished into private hoards. In 1865, industrialist Joseph Wharton lobbied Congress to utilize domestic Pennsylvania nickel mines. The resulting cupronickel 3-cent piece (75% copper, 25% nickel) was thicker, durable, difficult to counterfeit, and completely independent of fluctuating silver bullion prices.
6. Why did the US Mint terminate the Two-Cent and Three-Cent denominations?
The Coinage Act of 1873 discontinued the Two-Cent piece and the Three-Cent silver piece due to redundant fractional denominations and public preference for base-metal nickels and cents. The Three-Cent nickel lingered until 1889, when postal rates dropped to 2 cents, eliminating its primary utility.
7. What are the rarest dates in the obsolete Two-Cent and Three-Cent series?
For Two-Cent pieces: The 1864 Small Motto (scarce) and the 1873 Proof-Only issue (mintage 600). For Three-Cent Silver: The 1873 Proof-Only (mintage 600) and low-mintage business strikes 1863-1872 (often under 5,000 struck). For Three-Cent Nickel: The 1877 Proof-Only (mintage 510) and 1887/6 overdate.