1868

1868 was the year Congress tried to remove a president. Andrew Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives in February, accused of violating the Tenure of Office Act by firing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. The Senate trial ended in May with Johnson acquitted by a single vote. The two-cent piece, like all coinage, circulated through the constitutional crisis without comment. Philadelphia delivered 2,803,750 pieces that year, nearly matching the 1867 output. The denomination had found its stable production level for the late 1860s, settling at roughly 2-3 million coins annually.

Strike quality on 1868 two-cent pieces is generally good, though the shield design always presented challenges. The crossed arrows and olive branch behind the shield sit in recessed areas that tend to pick up grease and die debris during extended production runs. Coins struck from fresh dies show sharp, fully formed devices. Coins struck from worn or clogged dies show softer relief in the same areas.

Surviving examples are available in circulated grades without difficulty. PCGS estimates about 1,200 survivors across all grades with 125 in gem MS65 or better. A PCGS MS66 CAC sold for $6,463 at Stack's Bowers in February 2015. The wear points to check on any two-cent piece remain the word WE in the motto, the arrow tips, and the leaf tips on the olive branch.