1865 Two Cent Piece Value
A 1865 Two Cent Piece is worth roughly $0.10 to $38.00 depending on its condition, with a hard melt-value floor of $0.06 as of 2026-06-01 Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1865 Two Cent Piece value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $0.06 |
| Good (G-4) | $0.10 to $0.15 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $0.10 to $0.20 |
| Fine (F-12) | $0.20 to $0.35 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $0.40 to $0.70 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $0.80 to $1.35 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $1.60 to $2.70 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $3.20 to $5.40 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $7.20 to $12.00 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $22.50 to $38.00 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
What is a 1865 Two Cent Piece worth right now?
Start with $0.10 for a heavily circulated 1865 Two Cent Piece and work upward. Lightly circulated 1865 examples occupy the middle of the range, while true gems approach $38.00. If your coin has no wear on the high points, it deserves a closer look or a professional opinion.
1865 Two Cent Piece specifications
- Series
- Two Cent Piece
- Year
- 1865
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 13,640,000
- Composition
- 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc
- Weight
- 6.22 g
- Diameter
- 23 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- James Barton Longacre
Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).
Why this coin has no mint mark
The 1865 Two Cent Piece was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which used no mint mark in this era. If you find no letter where branch-mint coins carry one (None, all were struck at Philadelphia), you are holding a Philadelphia issue.
What makes the 1865 Two Cent Piece valuable
There is history in a 1865 Two Cent Piece as well. The two-cent piece of 1864 holds a permanent place in American history as the first coin to bear the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, adopted amid the religious fervor of the Civil War. That backdrop keeps the series among the most actively collected in American numismatics.
The generous mintage of 13,640,000 keeps this date affordable. That availability is an asset for collectors: it is the textbook choice for owning the Two Cent Piece design without a key-date price tag.
1865 Two Cent Piece inscriptions & design
Obverse
IN GOD / WE / TRUST [on ribbon] / (date)
Shield with ribbon and wreath
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / 2 / CENTS
Value in wreath
Measured 1865 Two Cent Piece specimens
4 physically measured 1865 Two Cent Piece examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 6.22 g, 23 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1865 Two Cent Piece #1 | 6.02 g | - | - | Breen.2381 |
| 1865 Two Cent Piece #2 | - | - | - | Breen.2381 |
| 1865 Two Cent Piece #3 | - | - | - | Breen.2380 |
| 1865 Two Cent Piece #4 | - | - | - | Breen.2381 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1865 Two Cent Piece is valued between $0.10 and $38.00 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.