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Share-Based Compensation and Employee Ownership Plans Stock Options (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate 0.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate    
Shares Subject to Option      
Options exercised, shares (33,334)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised    
Weighted Average Exercise Price/Share      
Weighted average remaining term, options outstanding 1 year 7 months 5 days 2 years 4 months 24 days 1 year 7 months 6 days
Weighted average remaining term, options exercisable 1 year 7 months 5 days 2 years 4 months 24 days  
Aggregate Intrinsic Value      
Closing stock price, in dollars per share $ 4.80us-gaap_SharePrice $ 3.91us-gaap_SharePrice  
Equity Plans      
Shares Subject to Option      
Balance outstanding, beginning of period, shares 300,006us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
773,763us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Options granted, shares 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Options exercised, shares (33,334)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Options expired, shares (50,000)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
(473,757)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Balance outstanding, end of period, shares 216,672us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
300,006us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Options exercisable, shares 216,672us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
300,006us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price/Share      
Balance outstanding, beginning of period, in dollars per share $ 7.19us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
$ 12.58us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Options granted, in dollars per share $ 0.00us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
$ 0.00us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Options exercised, in dollars per share $ 3.50us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOtherShareIncreaseDecreaseInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
$ 0.00us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOtherShareIncreaseDecreaseInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Options expired, in dollars per share $ 16.27us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
$ 16.00us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Balance outstanding, end of period, in dollars per share $ 5.65us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
$ 7.19us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Options exercisable, in dollars per share $ 5.65us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
$ 7.19us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value      
Balance outstanding, beginning of period $ 41us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
[1] $ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
[1]  
Balance outstanding, end of period 87us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
[1] 41us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
[1]  
Options exercisable $ 0us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
[1]    
[1] Based on the Company's closing stock price of $4.80 on December 31, 2014 and $3.91 on December 31, 2013.