Aftermath Two-cent billon

a 2 cent piece proposed third time during economic turmoil of american civil war, due national coin shortage. part, lack of coins filled private token issues, struck in copper-nickel approximating size of cent , others thinner pieces in bronze.

this fact did not escape government officials, , in 1863, use of bronze coins proposed, did not seem contain face values in metal. in annual report submitted october 1, 1863, mint director james pollock noted whilst people expect full value in gold , silver coins, merely want inferior [base metal] money convenience in making exact payments . observed private cent tokens had contained little fifth of cent in metal, yet had still circulated. proposed copper-nickel cent replaced bronze piece of same size. pollock wanted eliminate nickel coinage metal; hard alloys destroyed dies , machinery. on december 8, pollock wrote treasury secretary salmon p. chase, proposing bronze cent , two-cent piece, , enclosing pattern coins of two-cent piece had had prepared. according numismatist neil carothers, two-cent piece proposed in order dollar value in small change circulation in short time possible, mint strike two-cent piece cent..

the bronze two-cent piece became regular issue, declining mintage numbers each year until discontinued officially in 1873.