Struck through out the year, in part when the Civil War was still raging in the United States, and in part when it was over. The 1865 cent remains to be a popular issue, with a total mintage of 35,429,286 pieces, making it the first affordable bronze cent up to gem uncirculated condition. The cent had changed to the metallic composition during the previous year, but the estimated five million minted circulated widely and that date is scarce to rare in the higher uncirculated grades. An estimated 500 were produced for collectors in Proof, but the date is considerably scarcer than the previous year. Pieces are still lower-priced, due to the lack of type set demand that the previous type has due to the fact that it was only struck in the middle of 1864 before the design was altered.

1865 marked the end of an era, being the period of the Civil War, but it also started a new one. Generally considered to have lasted from 1865 to 1877, the reconstruction of the United States as one nation. Especially in the wartorn south, were former soldiers of the confederacy returned with no government to pay them, it would take a long time before life returned to normal. Reconstruction started immediately after the civil war, but the addition of the 13th amendment of the Constitution ended a period, and at the same time started a new one:

Amendment XIV
Ratified December 6, 1865
"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction"

Former slaves still had an immense long road to go after the 13th Amendment, and a road which led parallel to the period of reconstruction. In April of 1866, with the passage of the Civil Rights Act, and later ratified in 1868 with the 14th amendment, all former slaves and people born with the United States were made citizens of the United States. For the first time, a citizen was not limited by its race or color of its skin. President Johnson vetoed the act at first, but Congress overruled his veto.

By 1867, two colleges had opened in the United States to provide education to former slaves and their children. One was located in Washington, D.C. and named after General Oliver Otis Howard, a Union War hero who helped to build the school. Another was located in the Deep South, Augusta, Georgia were a few years earlier Slavery was still abundant. Named the Morehouse College, it had three teachers and thirty seven students during it first few months

The 1865 cent circulated widely during the reconstruction era, as this issue can be located without any problems in any circulated grade. It must be noted that pieces showing any problems, like cleaning, damaged or rough surfaces. Serious collectors better avoid these pieces, as a better piece will easily become available. The extensive circulation of this issue has thinned out the supply of Mint State coins, but is available with some searching. Pieces with original Mint Red color are scarce in any grade, and especially so in the higher grades where they are valued much higher than their toned counterparts. This is also the case for the Proof issue, were pieces with full Mint red color are exceptionally rare. Many were hold in cotton, or envelopes. As a result, over many years, these pieces have toned to various colors except the original Mint red, and although they often exhibit exceptional eye-appeal they are valued lower than pieces showing full Mint red color.