Cherry Picking the 1864 Small Motto Two Cent Piece, Even in Low Grade

It truly amazes me that collectors take so little interest in the odd denominations these days. Despite the fact that coins like the half cent, two cent, three cent and twenty cent pieces all have an interesting story to tell, collectors just don't seem to as interested in them as they were in say 1960s. Back then the 1864 Small Motto Two Cent Piece was "key coin." Now, people don't seem to care.

At any rate, here is quick guide to cherry picking them at the shows. Most people point to the letter "D" in "GOD." The Small Motto version is short and wide while the Large Motto variety is taller and narrower. That's a good way to spot them, but even in low grade, note how the whole design on the obverse is higer up on the face of than coin on the Small Motto than it is on the Large Motto piece. This difference can be spotted, even on very low grade coins where the motto is completely worn away.

Here are two varieties side by side, Small Motto left, Large Motto, right.

 

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My go-to diagnostic is the leaf bunch below TRUST. If there is a well-defined fourth leaf on top, it is the Large Motto. If not, then it is the small motto.

I also just noticed that the right upoer arrow feathers have 4 ridges on the SM, and 3 on the LM.

 

2 cent coins are cheaper than I thought.
I can purchase an circulated example from my LCS for only $15-20

 

I'll bite. What's an "LCS?"

 

LCS=Local Coin Shop

 

I had to google this the first time I saw it. Local coin store/shop.

 

Yes.... Most in the series are very affordable. Just yesterday I purchased an XF 1864 with a 180 degree die rotation to send to my grandson. Only gave $30.00 for it.

 

Right side of the small motto leafs don't really touch the banner, that's what I look for.

 

I've cherried 4 small mottos in my time. One awful, damaged one, one G04 raw one, one AG03 raw one, and one VF20 raw one (for $55!).

 

How much more valuable are the small motto versions than their counterparts?

 

In XF, PCGS shows the large motto at $55, small motto at $800.

 

A VF20 large motto is $25. A VF20 small motto will run you $350-$400.

 

I cherry picked two when I was a dealer. The better one was very close to EF. I can’t believe that a dealer chould miss that, but he did.

Given the market, you don’t make a ton of money. It’s just a good mark-up.

 

Thanks for sharing this post. I’m going to be digging through my hoard of 2 cent pieces tonight.

 

Now, if you come across a small motto proof in a dealer's junk box, then ....

Cal

 

Some good info in here. I picked up a couple of other pick up points I didn't notice before. I will add those to my arsenal.

 

My instant low grade pick up point is the outer leaf below GOD. On the small motto that leaf is large, rounded, and comes close to the scroll. On the large motto it is a thin sliver of a leaf. And since it is in a protected area it is usually clearly visible all the way down to a Fair-2 coin. Look at the side by side pictures in the OP. You can clearly see the difference in that leaf.

 

I have cherry picked a lot of coins in my time, both U.S and World, but never a 2C small motto, (or a 1C 1858/7).

Wouldn't mind finding one here in the wild so that I can practice Conder's excellent pick-up tip.