A Key Date Two Cent Coin: The 1864 Small Motto (Currently Undervalued!)

The 1864 Small Motto variety is a key date two cent coin. It has a long history of popularity with collectors and is no stranger to price hikes, but in recent years appears to be undervalued, qualifying it as a Sleeper Coin!

Collectors looking for a key date coin bargain, here is your opportunity!

This video explains how the Shield two cent coin got its start in 1864 and its clear connection to the American civil war.

The two cent small and large motto difference is illustrated through photos.
The 1864 Shield two cent is the first United States coin to bear the “In God We Trust” motto. How this came to be is illustrated and explained.

Learn more at:
https://www.rarecoins101.com/
https://www.rarecoins101.com/key-date-coin-list.html
https://www.rarecoins101.com/1864-shield-two-cent-small-motto.html

Sources:
Civil war casualties
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/civil-war-casualties

First Battle of Bull Run
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_Bull_Run

Boston, William C. “Story of Our National Motto.” The Numismatist Magazine. September 1962 (1962 Volume 75 No. 9). The American Numismatic Association. https://www.money.org/

Julian, R.W. “The Two-Cent Piece.” Numismatic News. March 9, 2021.
https://www.numismaticnews.net/collecting-101/the-two-cent-piece

Morgan, Charles and Walker, Hubert. “1864 Two-Cent Piece : A Collector’s Guide.” Coin Week Notes. March 17, 2024.
https://coinweek.com/1864-two-cent-coin-a-collectors-guide-coinweek/

“Two-cent piece (United States).” Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-cent_piece_(United_States)

“1864 2C Small Motto, BN (Regular Strike).” PCGS.
https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1864-2c-small-motto-bn/3579

“Shield Two Cents (1864-1873).” NGC.
https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-explorer/united-states/two-cents/shield-two-cents-1864-1873/

Newman Numismatic Portal. https://nnp.wustl.edu/

Coin images:
Stack’s Bowers. https://stacksbowers.com/

Images:
Most of the historic images on this video are in the public domain. Many can be found at the Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/

Map of First Battle of Bull Run
Todd, Lewis P. and Curti, Merle. Rise of the American Nation, 3rd ed. Page 379. New York, NY. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc. 1972.

Battle of Shiloh
Painting by Mort Kunstler

Young man studying coin book
American Numismatic Association. https://www.money.org/

Background/Sound Effects:
https://pixabay.com/

“Battle Hymn of the Republic”, performed by United States Army Field Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy6AOGRsR80