1871 Two Cent Piece Value
Today a 1871 Two Cent Piece typically sells for $1.75 to $567, with condition doing most of the work, and its metal content alone is worth $0.06 as of 2026-06-01 Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1871 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.
What is the 1871 Two Cent Piece selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1871 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.
1871 Two Cent Piece specifications
- Series
- Two Cent Piece
- Year
- 1871
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 721,250
- 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).
Reading a coin with no mint mark
No mint mark is the mark here: the 1871 Two Cent Piece comes from the main Philadelphia Mint, which left its coins unlettered in this era. The position where branch mints placed their letter (None, all were struck at Philadelphia) is simply blank.
What makes the 1871 Two Cent Piece valuable
A 721,250 mintage lands this issue in semi-key territory. Expect a meaningful premium over common dates of the Two Cent Piece series at every grade level.
Context adds the final layer to the 1871 Two Cent Piece. Introduced to ease the wartime coin shortage, it was genuinely useful for only a few years; mintages fell annually as nickels and restored small change crowded it out, ending with a proof-only issue in 1873. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
1871 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 1871 Two Cent Piece specimens
1 physically measured 1871 Two Cent Piece example 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1871 Two Cent Piece #1 | - | - | - | Breen.2402 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1871 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.