1865 2C, BN
1865 2C Fancy 5, BN

1865 2C Plain 5, BN (Regular Strike)

Series: Shield Two Cents 1864-1872

PCGS MS66+BN

PCGS MS66+BN

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DATE COMPARISON

DATE COMPARISON

PCGS MS66BN

PCGS MS66BN

PCGS #:
38247
Designer:
James Barton Longacre
Edge:
Plain
Diameter:
23.00 millimeters
Weight:
6.22 grams
Mintage:
13,640,000
Mint:
Philadelphia
Metal:
Bronze
Auction Record:
$3,600 • MS66+BN • 09-17-2023 • Heritage Auctions

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos Grade Image Pedigree and History
1 PCGS MS66+BN

"The Sommelier Collection," Legend Rare Coin Auctions, May 27, 2021, Lot 449 - $1,292.50; Heritage Auctions, November 14, 2021, Lot 7037 - $1,681.20; Heritage Auctions, September 17, 2023, Lot 7021 - $3,600. Plain 5. Some mint red remains, gold, green, and magenta toning along the periphery.
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

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. 
#1 PCGS MS66+BN

"The Sommelier Collection," Legend Rare Coin Auctions, May 27, 2021, Lot 449 - $1,292.50; Heritage Auctions, November 14, 2021, Lot 7037 - $1,681.20; Heritage Auctions, September 17, 2023, Lot 7021 - $3,600. Plain 5. Some mint red remains, gold, green, and magenta toning along the periphery.
#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

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. 
Charles Morgan:

The 1865 Two-Cent Piece, Plain 5

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 Variety

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 family, collectors often hunt for several popular sub-varieties, including:

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