Besides being the oldest coin in my collection, it’s also one of the more interesting. This odd denomination began production in 1864, as small change was in growing demand due to the Civil War. People did not have faith in greenbacks, and believed that the war would cause them to lose all value. Thus, the mint began producing the 2-cent (1864-1873) and nickel 3-cent (1865-1889) pieces. Not many were made in later years because the coins were still experimental, causing them to be worth a nice amount today.

One of the oddities about this coin is that it was made with exactly double the metals in the small Indian Head cent. This is strange because it does not offer an advantage in size or weight. In fact, its size was a disadvantage because of its similarity to the large cent, discontinued only ten years earlier. The only plus was that it was like getting two coins in one. It makes one wonder why the mint thought the public would take to this coin.

A possible reason that people might have liked it is the thing that makes the coin so special. It was the first denomination to feature the motto "In God We Trust". This was put on originally to help the Union soldiers’ spirits in battle. The motto would become standard on all U.S. money in 1957.

The 1869 2-cent piece is the only one I won of this denomination. The regular issue coins can be worth from $9 in G-4, or good, condition to $250 uncirculated.

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