Description:
Offered here is a raw 1865 Two Cent Piece, featuring the Plain 5 variety, where the digit “5” in the date is straight and unadorned — contrasting with the more decorative Fancy 5 version. This circulated example displays strong detail for the grade and retains all major design elements, including the clear “IN GOD WE TRUST” motto. A solid and historically meaningful coin for collectors of U.S. copper and Civil War-era issues.
Specifications:
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Denomination: Two Cents
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Year of Issue: 1865
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Mint: Philadelphia (no mintmark)
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Variety: Plain 5 (straight-style “5” in the date)
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Series: Two Cent Piece (1864–1873)
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Composition: 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc
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Diameter: 23.0 mm
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Weight: 6.22 grams
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Grade: Raw – Circulated
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Certification: Not certified
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Holder: Supplied in archival 2x2 flip
Highlights:
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Plain 5 variety – straight-backed “5” in the date; scarcer than Fancy 5
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Circulated example with visible date, shield, and motto
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Features “IN GOD WE TRUST”, the first appearance of this motto on a U.S. coin
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Struck during the final year of the Civil War
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Great for variety collectors, U.S. type set builders, or early copper specialists
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Affordable entry into 19th-century U.S. coinage history
Historical Note:
The Two Cent Piece, introduced in 1864, was America’s first coin to bear the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” — a reflection of the national mindset during the Civil War. Designed by James B. Longacre, the coin was issued until 1873 but saw its highest production in 1864 and 1865.
The Plain 5 variety of 1865 features a simpler, straighter “5” in the date, and is often overshadowed by the Fancy 5 despite being the less common of the two. This makes it a desirable pickup for collectors building complete variety sets or seeking underrated Civil War coinage.
Need help completing your Two Cent collection or want to upgrade to a certified example? Let us know — we carry a curated inventory of U.S. copper classics.
