1864 2C Large Motto, RD
1865 2C Plain 5, RD

1865 2C, RD (Regular Strike)

Series: Shield Two Cents 1864-1872

PCGS MS66+RD

PCGS MS66+RD

View More Images

PCGS MS66+RD

PCGS MS66+RD

PCGS MS66+RD

PCGS MS66+RD

PCGS #:
3584
Designer:
James Barton Longacre
Edge:
Plain
Diameter:
23.00 millimeters
Weight:
6.22 grams
Mintage:
13,640,000
Mint:
Philadelphia
Metal:
Bronze
Auction Record:
$20,125 • MS67 • 01-12-2005 • Heritage Auctions

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades Survival
Estimate 		Numismatic
Rarity 		Relative Rarity
By Type 		Relative Rarity
By Series
All Grades 1,500 R-4.8 10 / 11 10 / 11
60 or Better 1,500 R-4.8 10 / 11 10 / 11
65 or Better 500 R-6.0 10 / 11 10 / 11
Survival Estimate
All Grades 1,500
60 or Better 1,500
65 or Better 500
Numismatic Rarity
All Grades R-4.8
60 or Better R-4.8
65 or Better R-6.0
Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades 10 / 11
60 or Better 10 / 11
65 or Better 10 / 11
Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades 10 / 11
60 or Better 10 / 11
65 or Better 10 / 11

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos Grade Image Pedigree and History
1 PCGS MS67RD

Legend Rare Coin Auctions, October 20, 2022, Lot 11 - $17,625; "The Rupert Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Fancy 5. Die cracks above the left side of the ribbon. Diagonal mark above 2. Die line from the left base of the 2.
1 PCGS MS67RD

Legend Rare Coin Auctions, October 20, 2022, Lot 10 - $21,150. Plain 5. On the reverse, a diagonal die crack starts over the "D" of UNITED, continues to the top of the "E", and terminates at the top of the "T".
1 PCGS MS67RD

As PCGS MS67RD. Heritage Auctions, January 13, 2005, Lot 5541 – $20,125. Rattler. As PCGS MS67RD #26825254. “The Wineguy Collection,” Heritage Auctions, January 9, 2014, Lot 5149 – $25,850. Fancy 5. Two tiny flecks of carbon on the left side of the shield’s chief. Two carbon spots on the reverse that book-end the left side of the wreath.
4 PCGS MS66+RD

Stack's Bowers, December 23, 2025, Lot 93124 - $5,520. Fancy 5. Two major die cracks at the rightside of the ribbon. Reverse die crack connects UNITED to STATES.
4 PCGS MS66+RD

Legend Rare Coin Auctions, July 15, 2021, Lot 51 - $8,225. Fancy 5. Two major die cracks at the rightside of the ribbon. Reverse die crack connects UNITED to STATES.
4 PCGS MS66+RD

As PCGS MS66+RD #40275441. “The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part II,” Heritage Auctions, November 19, 2020, Lot 3010 – $10,200. As PCGS MS66+RD #46409808. Stack’s Bowers, June 14, 2023, Lot 3023 – $6,000. Fancy 5. Light toning streaks cross the reverse.
4 PCGS MS66+RD

Stack’s Bowers, November 13, 2020, Lot 9086 – $8,400. Fancy 5. Carbon spot on the first column on the shield. Tick between "W" and "E" of WE. Diagonal tick to the right of 2.
4 PCGS MS66+RD

Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2020, Lot 3270 – $13,200. Fancy 5. Dark spot under 8.
4 PCGS MS66+RD

Heritage Auctions, July 12, 2018, Lot 3031 – $11,400; "The Winesteve (2) Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Fancy 5. There is a medium-sized toning spot on the first column of the shield. Die crack from 7 o’clock rim to 1. On the reverse, die crack from 7:30 to the tip of the wreath, another near 9 o’clock to me, and yet another from second A of AMERICA to the rim. There are toning spots on bulb of 2 and at the tip of the left arm of the wreath.
4 PCGS MS66+RD

Heritage Auctions, January 4, 2017, Lot 3389 - $5,640; "The Rafus - Two Cent Varieties Collection" (PCGS Set Registry).
4 PCGS MS66+RD

Heritage Auctions, September 7, 2016, Lot 3620 - $11,162.50; "The tompet38 Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Plain 5. Struck with clashed dies. Toning spot on the left side of the chief (horizontal stripes on the shield). Spot cluster above "TS" of CENTS.
4 PCGS MS66+RD

"The Winesteven - 44 w/CAC, 31 w/Pluses Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Fancy 5. Die cracks at date.
4 PCGS MS66+RD

"The hbbesq Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Plain 5. Struck with clashed dies. Diagonal die lines at 5 o'clock. 
4 PCGS MS66+RD

"The tompet38 Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Plain 5. Apparent fingerprint toning is visible at the top right. A die crack runs from the ball of the shield over the "65" in the date. The reverse features iridescent green accents along the periphery.
4 PCGS MS66+RD

Plain 5. Struck with clashed dies. Toning spot and horizontal mark at 9 o'clock. Diagonal die lines at 5 o'clock
4 PCGS MS66+RD

Dell Loy Hansen; "The D.L. Hansen Civil War Set" (PCGS Set Registry). Plain 5. Diagonal die crack through date. On the reverse, a diagonal crack starts at denticles and runs through "ST" of STATES. Diagonal planchet void to the left of 2.
4 PCGS MS66+RD

Fancy 5. Two major die cracks at the rightside of the ribbon. Reverse die crack connects UNITED to STATES.
4 PCGS MS66+RD

Plain 5. Struck with clashed dies. Diagonal die lines at 5 o'clock.
4 Est. MS66+RD

PCGS MS66+RD CAC #82625543: Heritage Auctions, February 16, 2017, Lot 3646 – $14,100; Dell Loy Hansen. As CACG #647898831. Plain 5. Scratch from the rim at 3 o’clock through leaves. Light carbon specks throughout.
#1 PCGS MS67RD

Legend Rare Coin Auctions, October 20, 2022, Lot 11 - $17,625; "The Rupert Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Fancy 5. Die cracks above the left side of the ribbon. Diagonal mark above 2. Die line from the left base of the 2.
#1 PCGS MS67RD

Legend Rare Coin Auctions, October 20, 2022, Lot 10 - $21,150. Plain 5. On the reverse, a diagonal die crack starts over the "D" of UNITED, continues to the top of the "E", and terminates at the top of the "T".
#1 PCGS MS67RD

As PCGS MS67RD. Heritage Auctions, January 13, 2005, Lot 5541 – $20,125. Rattler. As PCGS MS67RD #26825254. “The Wineguy Collection,” Heritage Auctions, January 9, 2014, Lot 5149 – $25,850. Fancy 5. Two tiny flecks of carbon on the left side of the shield’s chief. Two carbon spots on the reverse that book-end the left side of the wreath.
#4 PCGS MS66+RD

Stack's Bowers, December 23, 2025, Lot 93124 - $5,520. Fancy 5. Two major die cracks at the rightside of the ribbon. Reverse die crack connects UNITED to STATES.
#4 PCGS MS66+RD

Legend Rare Coin Auctions, July 15, 2021, Lot 51 - $8,225. Fancy 5. Two major die cracks at the rightside of the ribbon. Reverse die crack connects UNITED to STATES.
#4 PCGS MS66+RD

As PCGS MS66+RD #40275441. “The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part II,” Heritage Auctions, November 19, 2020, Lot 3010 – $10,200. As PCGS MS66+RD #46409808. Stack’s Bowers, June 14, 2023, Lot 3023 – $6,000. Fancy 5. Light toning streaks cross the reverse.
#4 PCGS MS66+RD

Stack’s Bowers, November 13, 2020, Lot 9086 – $8,400. Fancy 5. Carbon spot on the first column on the shield. Tick between "W" and "E" of WE. Diagonal tick to the right of 2.
#4 PCGS MS66+RD

Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2020, Lot 3270 – $13,200. Fancy 5. Dark spot under 8.
#4 PCGS MS66+RD

Heritage Auctions, July 12, 2018, Lot 3031 – $11,400; "The Winesteve (2) Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Fancy 5. There is a medium-sized toning spot on the first column of the shield. Die crack from 7 o’clock rim to 1. On the reverse, die crack from 7:30 to the tip of the wreath, another near 9 o’clock to me, and yet another from second A of AMERICA to the rim. There are toning spots on bulb of 2 and at the tip of the left arm of the wreath.
#4 PCGS MS66+RD

Heritage Auctions, January 4, 2017, Lot 3389 - $5,640; "The Rafus - Two Cent Varieties Collection" (PCGS Set Registry).
#4 PCGS MS66+RD

Heritage Auctions, September 7, 2016, Lot 3620 - $11,162.50; "The tompet38 Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Plain 5. Struck with clashed dies. Toning spot on the left side of the chief (horizontal stripes on the shield). Spot cluster above "TS" of CENTS.
#4 PCGS MS66+RD

"The Winesteven - 44 w/CAC, 31 w/Pluses Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Fancy 5. Die cracks at date.
#4 PCGS MS66+RD

"The hbbesq Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Plain 5. Struck with clashed dies. Diagonal die lines at 5 o'clock. 
#4 PCGS MS66+RD

"The tompet38 Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Plain 5. Apparent fingerprint toning is visible at the top right. A die crack runs from the ball of the shield over the "65" in the date. The reverse features iridescent green accents along the periphery.
#4 PCGS MS66+RD

Plain 5. Struck with clashed dies. Toning spot and horizontal mark at 9 o'clock. Diagonal die lines at 5 o'clock
#4 PCGS MS66+RD

Dell Loy Hansen; "The D.L. Hansen Civil War Set" (PCGS Set Registry). Plain 5. Diagonal die crack through date. On the reverse, a diagonal crack starts at denticles and runs through "ST" of STATES. Diagonal planchet void to the left of 2.
#4 PCGS MS66+RD

Fancy 5. Two major die cracks at the rightside of the ribbon. Reverse die crack connects UNITED to STATES.
#4 PCGS MS66+RD

Plain 5. Struck with clashed dies. Diagonal die lines at 5 o'clock.
#4 Est. MS66+RD

PCGS MS66+RD CAC #82625543: Heritage Auctions, February 16, 2017, Lot 3646 – $14,100; Dell Loy Hansen. As CACG #647898831. Plain 5. Scratch from the rim at 3 o’clock through leaves. Light carbon specks throughout.
Charles Morgan:

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

Fancy 5

* * *