1873 Two Cent Piece Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1873 Two Cent Piece brings anywhere from $0.10 to $38.00, and its metal content alone is worth $0.06 as of 2026-06-01 Where your coin lands depends on wear, strike and surface quality.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1873 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.
How much is a 1873 Two Cent Piece worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1873 Two Cent Piece starts around $0.10. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $38.00. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1873 Two Cent Piece specifications
- Series
- Two Cent Piece
- Year
- 1873
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc
- Weight
- 6.22 g
- Diameter
- 23 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- James Barton Longacre
The missing mint mark, explained
The 1873 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 1873 Two Cent Piece valuable
The 1873 Two Cent Piece lacks precise production records, so its value rests on demonstrated rarity: how often examples surface at auction and how they compare to documented specimens.
Context adds the final layer to the 1873 Two Cent Piece. A complete ten-date set is a satisfying, compact goal rich in Civil War context. 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.
1873 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 1873 Two Cent Piece specimens
2 physically measured 1873 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1873 Two Cent Piece #1 | - | - | - | Breen.2408 |
| 1873 Two Cent Piece #2 | - | - | - | Breen.2408 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1873 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.