PCGS MS66BN
PCGS MS66BN
- PCGS #:
- 3582
- Designer:
- James Barton Longacre
- Edge:
- Plain
- Diameter:
- 23.00 millimeters
- Weight:
- 6.22 grams
- Mintage:
- 13,640,000
- Mint:
- Philadelphia
- Metal:
- Bronze
- Auction Record:
- $4,500 • MS65 • 11-01-1979 • Bowers & Ruddy
Major Varieties
Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More
| Survival Estimate | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 10,000 |
| 60 or Better | 3,000 |
| 65 or Better | 100 |
| Numismatic Rarity | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | R-3.0 |
| 60 or Better | R-4.4 |
| 65 or Better | R-8.0 |
| Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 9 / 11 TIE |
| 60 or Better | 11 / 11 |
| 65 or Better | 10 / 11 |
| Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 9 / 11 TIE |
| 60 or Better | 11 / 11 |
| 65 or Better | 10 / 11 |
Condition Census What Is This?
| #1 PCGS MS66+BN |
#1 PCGS MS66+BN
Legend Rare Coin Auctions, September 2, 2021, Lot 153 - $2,056.25. Plain 5. Hints of red remain. Lustrous. Copper spot to the left of 1. |
| #3 PCGS MS66BN |
#3 PCGS MS66BN
"The jmm483 Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Fancy 5. Cinnamon color with original red highlights. |
#3 PCGS MS66BN
Fancy 5. Displays a rich green-brown coloration. Prominent die cracks are visible over the ribbon and extending from the denticles through the date to the bottom leaves on the left. |
#3 PCGS MS66BN
Fancy 5. Hints of original red in the protected areas. |
#3 PCGS MS66BN
Fancy 5. Aubergine, blue, and orange color. Toning spot above S of CENTS. |
#3 PCGS MS66BN
Plain 5. More original red color remains on the reverse than the obverse. Lustrous and sharply struck. |
#3 PCGS MS66BN
Plain 5. Cinnamon-chocolate color. |
The 1865 Two-Cent Piece
First struck in 1864 to alleviate the nationwide coin shortage caused by the Civil War, the Two-Cent Piece ultimately struggled to gain long-term traction. The coin, identical in diameter to the deprecated half-cent but slightly heavier, was conceived as an instrument to increase the circulation of small change in the Northeast and Midwest. For a few years, the coin fulfilled its purpose; however, a glut of base-metal issues—specifically the Indian Head Cent, the Three-Cent Nickel, and the Shield Nickel five-cent coin—eventually crowded out the "double cent."
This eventuality was not yet apparent in 1865. For the second year of the series, the Philadelphia Mint struck 13,640,000 pieces, representing a 31% decline from the inaugural year. This downward trend accelerated in 1866, with mintage falling by another 77% before stabilizing briefly over the following two years.
The Plain 5 and Fancy 5 Varieties
For completionists, the 1865 Two-Cent Piece offers two major varieties: the Plain 5 (PCGS #38247) and the Fancy 5 (PCGS #38256), along with several Cherrypickers' Guide varieties. These descriptors refer specifically to the style of the numeral "5" in the date.
The Plain 5 is the primary date style for the 1865 issue and is characterized by a straight, horizontal crossbar at the top of the digit. In contrast to the Fancy 5—which features a distinctively curved or "flipped" flag—the Plain 5 presents a more utilitarian, geometric profile. Within the Plain 5 and Fancy 5 families, collectors often hunt for several popular sub-varieties, including:
Plain 5
- Doubled Die Obverse: FS-101 (#38250) and FS-102 (#569397)
- Repunched Date: FS-301 (#38253)
- Die Clash: FS-401/901 (#569400)
Fancy 5
- Repunched Date: FS-301 (#38259-#38261), FS-302 (#38262-#38264), FS-303 (#38265-38267).
- Misplaced Date: FS-304 (#38268-38270), FS-305 (#569403-#569405).
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