1868 Two-Cent Piece

The 1868 two-cent piece is an extremely valuable coin in the eyes of most every collector out there. To that end, these coins also have historical significance in that they were produced right around the end of the Civil War. With two different types of people striving to get their hands on these coins, it goes without saying that acquiring one of your own is no easy feat. What’s more, acquiring an 1868 two-cent piece in great condition is even more difficult.

Still, collectors strive to get their hands on the most well-preserved pieces. Unfortunately, the fact that these coins are roughly 150 years old means that finding well-preserved pieces is not very common. In total, there were never very many of these coins. Having been produced for only 10 years, the number of two-cent pieces that have survived through the years pale in comparison to more popular, widely-produced coins.

The coin’s design is quite simple, but elegant all the same. On the obverse side of the coin, the central part of the face is dominated by the US Seal, which is nothing more than an ornate wreath. Above the Seal you will find a waving banner that features a raised inscription which reads, “In God We Trust.” Rounding out the obverse side is the 1868 year of minting, which exists as a raised inscription beneath the seal. The reverse side of the coin also features a wreath, however it is a simple wheat wreath and does not hold the same significance as the US Seal. In the middle of the reverse’s wreath you will find the 2-cent face value, while the words “United States of America” arch over the top of the wreath.

Grading the 1868 Two-Cent Piece

If we are talking about the two-cent piece, whether it is from 1868 or any other year, the chief goal is to have the coin’s condition assessed. Nowadays, the best way to assess a coin’s condition is by way of an expert. When you have a coin’s condition assessed by an expert, it is given a grade. The grade is nothing more than the official designation of the condition the coin is in. The following will give you a better idea of what coin grades are and what they mean.

Uncirculated: Uncirculated 1868 two-cent pieces are those that have never been in circulation and were preserved from the very first day that they existed. As a result, these coins will show absolutely no signs of wear and tear and will be, for all intents and purposes, perfect. The coin’s age might mean that some of the coloration will have faded, but the actual physical aspects of the coin will be perfect.

Extremely Fine: An Extremely Fine coin, to the untrained eye, will look much like an Uncirculated one. With that being said, once an expert looks at these coins a little closer some small imperfections will be noticed. Whether it is subtle scratching or some smoothing, there will be minor imperfections on these coins.

Fine: Fine is the grade given to coins that have been circulated extensively but are still in decent shape. These 1868 two-cent pieces will show signs of wear and tear to the naked eye, but the main imagery and raised inscriptions will still be identifiable.

Good: Good is the worst grade a coin can receive. These coins will show a lot of damage and will even have some of their imagery worn away due to years of being circulated. Despite their condition, these coins are still sought after by collectors for no other reason than the fact that very few exist.

Pricing the 1868 Two-Cent Piece

When it comes to determining how much your 1868 two-cent piece is worth, or how much one will cost to buy, this is something that depends almost entirely upon the grade which it has received. Below is a chart listing the different values of 1868 two-cent pieces segregated by the grades.

1868 Two Cent

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1868	$20	$36	$75	$110
Source: Red Book