1864 Two Cent Piece (Large Motto)
About This Coin
James B. Longacre’s Two Cent piece debuted in 1864, born of the severe coin shortages of the Civil War. It holds a permanent place in numismatic history as the first United States coin to carry the motto "In God We Trust." For the collector, the 1864 Large Motto represents the definitive introduction of this short-lived, novel denomination.
Securing an early copper issue in a state of preservation as high as MS66 is a rare opportunity. Civil War-era copper was minted to circulate, and the survival of a specimen at this level, preserved so carefully for over a century and a half, is remarkable. This NGC-certified piece offers the precise detail and level of preservation that advanced collectors seek in registry-quality type coins.
It is a quiet survivor of a turbulent era in American history, representing both a design first and a peak of preservation. It will make a handsome addition to any serious cabinet of nineteenth-century copper.
