The Two Cent Piece has the same composition as the cent of the time, consisting of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc. Each has a diameter of 23 millimeters, a weight of 6.22 grams (96 grains), and a plain edge. Like the other minor coinage of the time, the coins were produced at the Philadelphia Mint and do not carry a mintmark.
The Philadelphia Mint seems to have had some problems keeping up the quality of the two cent pieces. Many show die cracks, while a few doubled dies and repunched dates are known as well. These are not as avidly collected as in some other series although they still carry a premium and can be worth cherrypicking.
Most dates of the series are rare to find with full original coloration and carry a strong premium as such. A full red mint state set is a very difficult endeavor due to the limited striking period of this denomination.
