The two-cent piece was a short-lived Civil War solution that introduced a national motto.
In short: Born from the economic chaos of the American Civil War, the two-cent piece was a temporary fix for a nation lacking small change. Though it vanished from circulation within a decade, it left an enduring legacy as the first American coin to bear the national motto, In God We Trust.
During the American Civil War, economic instability led the public to hoard government-issued coins, causing them to vanish from daily use. To fill this void, private tokens circulated, often made of bronze. Mint Director James Pollock proposed a new bronze two-cent piece in 1863 to restore order, arguing that base metal coins were sufficient for convenience. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Coinage Act of 1864, authorizing the coin and making it legal tender for payments up to ten cents.
The coin featured a shield design by James B. Longacre, symbolizing federal strength and unity. At the urging of Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase, the motto 'In God We Trust' was added to the design, inspired by 'The Star-Spangled Banner' and the motto of Brown University. This marked the first time the phrase appeared on American coinage, setting a precedent that would eventually lead to its inclusion on all United States currency by 1938.
While initially popular, the two-cent piece was soon rendered redundant by the introduction of three-cent and five-cent nickel coins. Mintages declined annually throughout the late 1860s. Following the Coinage Act of 1871, which allowed for the redemption of minor coinage, the government began withdrawing and melting the pieces. The series was officially abolished by the Mint Act of 1873, with approximately 45.6 million pieces issued in total. Today, these coins remain relatively affordable for collectors, serving as a distinct relic of 19th-century American economic history.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Two-cent piece (United States)
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