Diagnostic Controls & Presets First US Coin to Bear 'IN GOD WE TRUST'
Diagnostic Forensic Readings
Forensic Attribution Diagnostic
Real-time metallurgical and die variety cross-examination verified against certified populations.
Technical Breakdown: Physics, Metallurgy & Die Diagnostics
Historic First: Mandatory inscription of 'IN GOD WE TRUST'
Prompted by appeals from Rev. Mark R. Watkinson and Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase, Congress mandated the national motto on the new two-cent denomination to affirm spiritual strength during the Civil War.
Large Motto: Letters 1.2 mm high, wide 'D', serifed 'T'
The Small Motto was struck from the original pattern hub (Judd-370). When Chief Engraver Longacre realized the letters were too delicate to withstand high-volume production, he cut a larger, heavier hub.
Alloy: 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc (Diameter: 23.0 mm)
Total 1864 mintage was 19,847,500 pieces, but fewer than 2% of surviving specimens are the rare Small Motto variety, making Gem Red examples premier numismatic prizes.
Documented Benchmark Auction Records
Ex-Simpson & Twin Leaf Collections. Breathtaking fiery orange-red mint luster; pristine ribbon fold with sharp small lettering.
Choice Gem uncirculated specimen; glowing wood-grain violet-russet toning with full wheat wreath berries on the reverse.
Standard production hub; blazing cartwheel brilliance across both sides with razor-sharp crossed arrows and shield lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 1864 Two-Cent Piece one of the most famous coins in US history?
The 1864 Two-Cent Piece was the very first United States coin to carry the national motto 'IN GOD WE TRUST'. Authorized during the height of the American Civil War by the Act of April 22, 1864, it introduced the motto that now appears on all American currency.
What caused the addition of 'IN GOD WE TRUST'?
During the darkest days of the Civil War in November 1861, a Pennsylvania minister named Rev. M.R. Watkinson wrote to Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase, urging that the United States openly recognize God on its coinage to bolster national morale. Chase agreed and directed Mint Director James Pollock and Engraver James B. Longacre to prepare motto patterns, settling on 'IN GOD WE TRUST'.
What is the difference between the 'Small Motto' and 'Large Motto'?
The 'Small Motto' features letters that are noticeably smaller, more delicate, and plain (the letter 'D' in GOD is narrow and distant from the ribbon border, and the first 'T' in TRUST has no serifs). The 'Large Motto' features thick, bold, block letters with prominent serifs where the 'D' nearly touches the upper and lower ribbon edges.
Which variety is rarer and more valuable?
The 'Small Motto' is vastly rarer. Struck from the initial experimental hub, only a tiny fraction of the 1864 mintage carries the Small Motto. In Gem Mint State condition, an 1864 Small Motto is worth $5,000 to over $40,000, while a Large Motto is worth $500 to $900.
Why was a two-cent denomination created?
During the Civil War, citizens hoarded all silver, gold, and even copper coins, paralyzing everyday commerce. Merchants were forced to give stamps, tokens, or paper fractional scrip as change. Congress authorized the two-cent coin in a French bronze alloy (95% copper, 5% tin/zinc) to quickly alleviate the shortage.
How long did the Two-Cent series last?
The two-cent denomination was short-lived, minted from 1864 until 1873. Once the nickel five-cent coin was introduced in 1866 and silver coins resumed circulation after the Civil War, commercial demand for the two-cent piece evaporated, and Congress abolished it in the Coinage Act of 1873.
What is the weight and physical size of the two-cent coin?
The coin weighs 96 grains (6.22 grams), measures 23.0 millimeters in diameter (larger than a modern nickel), has a plain smooth edge, and contains 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc.