Home› U.S. Coin Forum
Options

1864 2-cent Large or Small motto?

How do you tell?

My 2-cent peice is in pretty rough condition. It looks like someone shot it with a shotgun because it's so pitted. It sorta looks like the damage you'd see from a coin that has been in the ground a long time.

Anyway, even though it's worthless in this condition, can anyone tell if this is a large or small motto coin? I can only made out the "OD" in the motto, so not much to go by. I have been looking at photographs of both but cannot tell for certain. Perhaps someone with a trained eye can tell

image

image

Comments

  • Options
    MICHAELDIXONMICHAELDIXON Posts: 6,765 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The OD is the giveaway. What you have is the Large Motto. If you have a Red Book or Breens, it has large pictures. In fact, I think www.coinfacts.com has pictures.
    Thanksgiving 2026 National Battlefield Coin Show November 27 & 28, 2026 at the Eisenhower Hotel Ballroom, Gettysburg, PA. No Early Bird passes for this show. WWW.AmericasCoinShows.com
  • Options
    MICHAELDIXONMICHAELDIXON Posts: 6,765 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanksgiving 2026 National Battlefield Coin Show November 27 & 28, 2026 at the Eisenhower Hotel Ballroom, Gettysburg, PA. No Early Bird passes for this show. WWW.AmericasCoinShows.com
  • Options
    Thank you!
  • Options
    I think a legible motto is the first step image Sorry, I couldn't resist image Looks like some major damage on that coin, though... image
    -George
    42/92
  • Options
    Coin FinderCoin Finder Posts: 7,819 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I always found the easiest way is O in GOD. If the inside of the O is thin and narrow it is a large motto. If it is round it is the small motto.

    Tbig

    The court jester does not play, but gently pulls the strings…

  • Options
    krankykranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭
    Good diagnostic, Tbig. I use the "U" in TRUST. To my eyes, the U in the Large Motto variety is larger than the other letters in TRUST. If the U is taller than it is wide, Large Motto. If the U is square, Small Motto.

    New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file