2c Small motto?

logger7

This looks like a small motto to me, I don't have a large motto to compare it to. I got it with a collection of largely low grade cents with problems, I would guess Good 4-6 on this:

BillJones

It looks like a Large Motto to me. If you can't read enough of the motto to tell the difference, look at the distance between the scroll and the rim. If it is really close to the rim it's the Small Motto. If it further away, it's the Large Motto.

Small Motto

Large Motto

yosclimber

I agree with @BillJones - Large Motto.

PCGS CoinFacts photo comparison

great photo from an older thread on this forum

There are many die markers for the Small Motto (on top in above photo):

• D in GOD thickness the same on top and bottom as on sides (vs. D Large Motto thicker on sides than on top)
• N in IN square/short shaped (vs. tall on Large Motto)
• first T in TRUST close to fold in scroll on left

• 
  long upper leaf under GOD (helpful when the coin is very worn; yours is not too worn)

• scroll with IN GOD about equal distance from dentils and leaves under GOD (vs. Large Motto, scroll farther from dentils), as @BillJones noted

There has been a photo comparison of the two in the Red Book for decades, where most of us learned about it. You should get a copy of this book if you don't have it.

jdimmick

OP's coin is a lg motto

logger7

Thanks for the accurate analysis here. I don't know why it might be a small motto since every other coin in the collection was either problem or low grade. I did look at some pictures on Coinfacts, not sure how I missed it. I'll put on a dunce cap and sit in the corner for a little while....

ShaunBC5

I feel you. I have a large motto and a small motto. I spent two nights trying to convince myself the large one was a small, also. I even recruited my wife. I tried my best but it was still a large.

logger7

@ShaunBC5 said:
I feel you. I have a large motto and a small motto. I spent two nights trying to convince myself the large one was a small, also. I even recruited my wife. I tried my best but it was still a large.

A guy at a flea market is selling all this large motto 2c pieces as the much rarer small motto. The small mottos I have had had the "we" worn off so I was thinking of that as a diagnostic and the motto looked smaller to me.

DoubleEagle59

You don't have to look at the motto to tell.

Arrow feathers to the right of the 4 in 1864.

Large M: 3 feathers

Small M: 4 feathers.

Use this to cherry pick of worn coins.

WAYNEAS

@DoubleEagle59 said:
You don't have to look at the motto to tell.

Arrow feathers to the right of the 4 in 1864.

Large M: 3 feathers

Small M: 4 feathers.

Use this to cherry pick of worn coins.

Thanks for posting this.
It makes telling the difference so much easier.
Wayne