1870 Two Cent Piece Value
A 1870 Two Cent Piece is worth roughly $1.75 to $567 depending on its condition; the melt floor under every example is $0.06 (spot prices 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.
1870 Two Cent Piece value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $0.06 |
| Good (G-4) | $1.75 to $2.95 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $2.55 to $4.30 |
| Fine (F-12) | $4.40 to $7.45 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $8.00 to $13.50 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $14.50 to $24.50 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $28.00 to $47.50 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $56.00 to $94.50 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $112 to $189 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $336 to $567 |
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.
How much is a 1870 Two Cent Piece worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1870 Two Cent Piece starts around $1.75. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $567. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1870 Two Cent Piece specifications
- Series
- Two Cent Piece
- Year
- 1870
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 861,250
- 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 1870 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.
The value drivers behind this coin
The mintage of 861,250 puts the 1870 Two Cent Piece among the scarcer issues of its series. It is findable, but nice examples take patience, and the market prices that difficulty in.
There is history in a 1870 Two Cent Piece as well. The 1864 Small Motto variety and the proof-only 1873 are the series' keys. That backdrop keeps the series among the most actively collected in American numismatics.
1870 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 1870 Two Cent Piece specimens
2 physically measured 1870 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 Two Cent Piece #1 | - | - | - | Breen.2400 |
| 1870 Two Cent Piece #2 | - | - | - | Breen.2400 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1870 Two Cent Piece is valued between $1.75 and $567 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.