1864 Two Cents

Looks like plenty of diagnostics on this one for a variety to be determined. If you could do a close up of the date it would help. There are a few 2¢. experts here (not me) and they will be along. I would guess, just by the general look, that this is a business strike?

Compare to this.... http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/321459398378?lpid=82. Considering only about 600 were made... I do not think the dies would have deteriorated to the state yours appear, cracks, rim Cud.... Again I am not an expert in this series and certainly could be wrong.....lets wait for westcoin or nohope or others to comment.....

Nope not proof
as for the cleaned I would need better pics.. before I would say cleaned

If it means anything, I've had this coin in my album for over 20 years, and it's always been the same tone/color. In my limited experience and understanding, cleaned coins will re-tone to some degree in time, but this is not the case. The coin looks very natural and original.

I'd love to know why nohope587 is certain that it's not a proof. I was never sure it was, but I'd love to be educated about it. From what I've read (quality of strike, differences between scratches and lint marks, etc) I've not been able to be sure about it either way, though as previously mentioned... the die breaks are and rim Cud are quite apparent.

Thanks for the info. I know it's a large motto, but beyond that I wasn't aware of any other varieties.
Though the proof is worth more, I'm happy it's a business strike, as that's what I like to collect.

Not a Proof that I can tell, the diagnostics are all wrong. I'm pretty sure this is a Leone 25L with the same reverse die as 18L. The obverse rim Cud does not quite match up exactly, but it could be a slightly earlier die state. Is there a small die crack running through the ball at the bottom of the shield? If so then I think we have a 25L die pairing here.

Other diagnostics for this die paring are:

OBVERSE:
-Diagonal die scratch through the lower half of the 6
-Diagonal die scratch through the top of R ending at center of left upright of U.
-Rim ( Cud) crumbling between 8:00 and 9:00K.
Die Cracks:
-Die Crack from Lower cluster at left through arrow feathers at left to the border below (That is the crack we can easily see on your coin).
-Die Crack through the ball of the shield (horizontal).

REVERSE
-Full top of serif on D of United
-Bold outline to UNITED ------ -- -----CA and CENTS (called Longacre's Doubling).
Die Cracks:
-from border above I, Southwest through N, ending at wreath.
-Thru bottoms of TES
-From Stems at right to border
-From Ribbon end at left to Stem at right

This is a business strike, not a proof die. The coin has a polished or whizzed look to me as well, but that could just as well be the lighting, so I would hold judgement on calling it cleaned to soon. There seems to be no wear at all on the coin. But we would need much larger photos or better resolution to determine the exact variety and grade. Try using an external image host rather than CCF photo hosting, and link from that. I like Photobucket personally.

1864LM Proofs are a tough coin to find. I've had two of them in the past, not often found, Heritage has two coming up for auction this next month. You can verify diagnostics from their website if you join for free, you will be able to see huge close up areas of the coins.

MS details polished

Thanks all for the great info. Real life and job have be tied up ATM, but I'll try to get some better shots later today.

Brian.