The "2 Cents 2" Washington underwent a remarkable thirty-four renditions between February 1912 and May 1921. It is referred to as "2 Cents 2" because the previous two-cent denomination, the Washington of the Third Bureau Issue, displayed the denomination at the bottom of the stamp as "Two Cents." A variety of papers, coils, watermarks, and perforations differentiate the varieties. Engravers also used a wide variety of fonts for the "2 Cents 2" Washington over the course of its many printings.
The World War I American Expeditionary Forces Booklet Pane used the "2 Cents 2" Washington design for its two-cent denomination. This denomination is the most rare booklet pane of all United States stamps.
The "Two Cent" Washington most often paid the two-cent domestic first-class rate. Patrons also commonly combined it other denominations to fulfill large weight and foreign destination rates. By the time the last "Two Cent" Washington stamps were sold, more than 73 billion had been issued.
Glossary
