1868 Two-Cent Piece. MS-65 RB (PCGS). CAC.

1868 Two-Cent Piece. MS-65 RB (PCGS). CAC.，This lovely Gem Mint State two-cent piece has bright golden-orange luster on both sides and an intense satin texture. It is minimally toned, sharply struck, and has silky smooth surfaces. The two-cent piece made its debut in 1864 at a time when gold and silver coinage had been absent from circulation in the Eastern and Midwestern states due to the economic turmoil and uncertainty brought about by the Civil War. Struck in bronze, the new denomination was not subject to hoarding and, as such, initially proved popular in commercial channels. Mintages were correspondingly high in 1864 and 1865, but with the advent of the nickel three-cent piece in 1865 and the end of the Civil War, production fell off rapidly through the series end in 1873. The 1868 was produced to the extent of 2,803,760 pieces, making it one of the more available circulation strikes in todays market. The present example offers premium quality for both the assigned grade and color designation and would make an impressive addition to a high grade type set.，From the A.J. Vanderbilt Collection. Acquired from Stacks, January 1979.，