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1864 Small Motto Proof
| Weight | 6.22 g |
| Diameter | 23 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Proof |
| Mintage | 19,847,500 Combined mintage for all 1864 varieties |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 95% Copper, 5% Tin & Zinc |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | James B. Longacre |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-906 |
Collection
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Other recorded varieties for 1864:
- 1864 Large Motto Proof · Large Motto
External references
The 1864 Small Motto proof two-cent piece is a major rarity. The Mint struck the proofs from the same dies that produced the limited Small Motto circulation coins, and the proof production ended when those dies were retired in favor of the Large Motto design. Estimates of surviving proofs range from fewer than two dozen to perhaps thirty coins, making this one of the rarest proofs in the entire two-cent piece series.
The proof format shows the Small Motto lettering in sharp, mirrored detail. The smaller letters across the ribbon are clearly distinguishable from the Large Motto version, and the proof's full strike preserves the dies' original character. A collector who wants to see exactly what the first-intended two-cent piece motto looked like, before the Mint enlarged the lettering, must own a Small Motto coin. The proof offers that view in its clearest form.
Pricing reflects the extreme scarcity. Any 1864 Small Motto proof offered at public auction draws intense specialist attention. Certification is essential; the price difference between a Small Motto proof and a Large Motto proof is substantial enough that unattributed coins are not worth the risk.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| PR-63 | Proof (PR) | — | — |
How many 1864 Small Motto Proof Two-Cent Pieces were minted?
What is a 1864 Small Motto Proof Two-Cent Piece made of?
What is the melt value of a 1864 Small Motto Proof Two-Cent Piece?
Is the 1864 Small Motto Proof Two-Cent Piece a key date?
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