Two-Cent Pieces

The Act of April 22, 1864, which changed the weight and composition of the cent, included a provision for a bronze two-cent piece. The weight was specified as 96 grains, the alloy being the same as for the cent. The two-cent piece is one of the shortest lived issues of United States coinage. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST appeared for the first time on the new coin, due largely to increased religious sentiment during the Civil War crisis. There are two varieties for the first year of issue, 1864: the Small Motto, which is scarce, and the Large Motto. On the obverse, the D in GOD is narrow on the Large Motto. The stem to the leaf shows plainly on the Small Motto variety. There is no stem on the Large Motto. The first T in TRUST is very close to the ribbon crease at left on the Small Motto variety; there is a 1 mm gap on the Large Motto variety. The shield device is very similar to that on the nickel five-cent piece introduced in 1866. -- Red Book (2008)