Two Cent Coins And Three Cent Pieces

Two-cent coins?

Yes, the United States had a coin at one time with a denomination of two cents.

And three cents, too.

Here’s a little about both, 2-cent and 3-cent coins, including how much they’re worth…

 

Two-Cent Coins

The two-cent coin is one of the shortest lived U.S. coins. It was only minted from 1864 to 1873.

The two-cent coin is the first coin to bear the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. This was mostly due to the large increase in religious sentiment during the Civil War.

The designer of this coin was James B. Longacre, and all 2-cent coins were minted in Philadelphia.

Here’s how much two-cent coins are worth…

1873 Open 3 – $1,000.00 to $1,600.00
1873 Closed 3 – $1,200.00 to $1,500.00
1872 – $285.00 to $800.00
1871 – $28.00 to $160.00
1870 – $25.00 to $140.00
1869 – $22.00 to $110.00
1868 – $20.00 to $90.00
1867 – $18.00 to $65.00
1866 – $18.00 to $65.00
1865 – $18.00 to $65.00
1864 Large Motto – $18.00 to $65.00
1864 Small Motto – $120.00 to $650.00

More about two-cent coins here.

 

Three-Cent Coins

Another coin that most people aren’t familiar with is the three cent piece.

Three cent coins were minted from 1851 to 1889. From 1851 to1873 they were made of 75% silver.

It’s the smallest U.S. silver coin ever minted. I’ve owned a few of these, and boy are they tiny.

From 1865 to 1889, the composition was changed to copper-nickel and the coin became a little larger — about the size of a dime.

The designer of both types of 3-cent coins was James B. Longacre, and all pieces were struck in Philadelphia.

Here’s a little about their worth…

Nickel Three Cent Pieces
1888-1889 – $45.00 to $190.00
1882-1887 $175.00 to $300.00
1881 – $15.00 to $55.00
1879-1880 – $60.00 to $180.00
1878 Proof – $600.00
1877 Proof – $1,200.00
1876-1865 – $18.00 to $75.00

Silver Three Cent Pieces
1873 Proof – $825.00
1872-1863 – $300.00 to $550.00
1862-1859 – $25.00 to $150.00
1858-1851 – $25.00 to $250.00

More about three cent coins here.