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1872
| Weight | 6.22 g |
| Diameter | 23 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 65,000 |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 95% Copper, 5% Tin & Zinc |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | James B. Longacre |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-958 |
Collection
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No additional varieties recorded for this strike.
External references
The 1872 two-cent piece is the key circulation date of the series, with a mintage of only 65,000 coins. The figure represents the near-total abandonment of the denomination. By 1872, the Mint was producing two-cent pieces mainly to preserve the series for collector sets rather than for any real commercial purpose. The Coinage Act of 1873 would formally discontinue the denomination the following year.
The 65,000-coin mintage makes the 1872 genuinely rare in any grade. PCGS estimates about 300 survive across all grades, with only 65 at the gem level of MS65 or better. Most examples are in lower circulated condition. Good to Very Good is the typical grade range, and finding one above Fine requires active searching. A PCGS MS65+ sold for $18,800 at Heritage in August 2013, one of the highest prices ever realized for a circulation-strike two-cent piece.
The 1872 is the coin that marks the two-cent piece's effective end as a circulating denomination. The 1873 issues would be proof-only, struck for collectors rather than commerce. A collector building a complete date set of two-cent pieces faces the 1872 as the primary obstacle: not the rarest proof, but the rarest circulation strike, and the one that makes or breaks the set's completion.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | $325 | $375 |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | $415 | $480 |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | $515 | $595 |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $690 | $800 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $905 | $1,045 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $1,465 | $1,695 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | $2,645 | $3,055 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | $3,970 | $4,205 |
How much is a 1872 Two-Cent Piece worth?
How many 1872 Two-Cent Pieces were minted?
What is a 1872 Two-Cent Piece made of?
What is the melt value of a 1872 Two-Cent Piece?
Is the 1872 Two-Cent Piece a key date?
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