Whitman Expo
The unprecedented crossover underscores his personal efforts to combat “grade inflation.”
Thank you to our sponsors!
Go check them out!
Obverse Description
Lady Liberty is portrayed with hair tied in a bun, facing left, in what is referred to as the so-called braided hair style. The word LIBERTY appearing on her headband. 13 stars appear continuously around the periphery with the date at the bottom.
Reverse Description
The words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the periphery surround a wreath framing the words HALF CENT. The wreath is tied by a bow at the bottom.
Catalog Information
GSID:
686
Designer:
Christian Gobrecht
Obverse Designer:
Christian Gobrecht
Obverse Lettering:
LIBERTY, 1856
Reverse Designer:
Christian Gobrecht
Reverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, HALF, CENT
Weight (gr):
5.44 gr
Weight (oz):
0.1749 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
23.5
Coin Shape:
Round
Edge:
Plain
Coin Date:
1856
Denomination:
1/2c
Designation:
MS
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Mintage:
40,430
Coinage Type:
Half Cent
Coinage Years:
1849-1857
Composition:
Copper
Rarity:
1
PCGS #:
1238
Subscribe to View
View more data, info, and visualizations. Get access to retail and wholesale pricing as well as auction data.
Coin Value History
1856 1/2c MS RD
Value By Grade
1856 1/2c MS RD
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
Sort by
Pricing
1856 1/2 C C-1, B-2a, R.1, MS63 Red PCGS. CAC. Housed in a Generation 3.1 green label holder. PCGS Population: (4/12). CAC ...
$8,400
1856 1/2 C C-1, B-2a, R.1, MS64 Red PCGS. A needle-sharp strike exists throughout both sides of this original, full-red hal...
$3,360
1856 1/2 C C-1, B-2a, R.1, MS65 Red PCGS. CAC. ...
$48,000
1856 B-2a, C-1, R.1, MS64+ Red PCGS. CAC. Our EAC Grade MS63. ...
$15,600
1856 1/2 C C-1 MS65 Red NGC. C-1, B-2a, R.1. ...
$3,525
1856 1/2 C C-1, B-2a, R.1, MS64 Red PCGS. ...
$3,525
1856 1/2 C MS64 Red PCGS. C-1, B-2a, R.1. ...
$4,112
1856 1/2 C MS64 Red PCGS. ...
$3,968
$1,725
1856 1/2 C MS64 Red PCGS. B-1, C-1, R.1. A bright orange-...
$1,725
1856 1/2 C, RD
$660
Braided Hair Half Cent 1/2c 1849-1857 MS BN [Type]
Worth: $50 – $6,000
Braided Hair Half Cent 1/2c 1849-1857 MS RB [Type]
Worth: $220 – $8,400
Braided Hair Half Cent 1/2c 1849-1857 MS RD [Type]
Worth: $700 – $18,000
1849 1/2c MS BN
Worth: $50 – $6,000
1849 1/2c MS RB
Worth: $500 – $5,400
1849 1/2c MS RD
Worth: $3,000 – $3,600
1850 1/2c MS BN
Worth: $55 – $9,000
1850 1/2c MS RB
Worth: $2,000 – $7,200
1850 1/2c MS RD
Worth: $38,000 – $72,000
1851 1/2c MS BN
Worth: $50 – $1,140
1851 1/2c MS RB
Worth: $400 – $2,160
1851 1/2c MS RD
Worth: $650 – $24,000
1853 1/2c MS BN
Worth: $50 – $6,000
1853 1/2c MS RB
Worth: $220 – $4,200
1853 1/2c MS RD
Worth: $700 – $18,000
Greysheet News
Prominent Collector Dell Loy Hansen Submitting His Historical Collection Of U.S. Coins To CAC Grading
8/8/2024
American Numismatic Association's Largest Coin Show, August 6-10 In Chicago
Dazzling rarities, free educational opportunities, family fun and more await at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
7/25/2024
United States Mint Unveils Designs For The 2025 United States Marine Corps 250th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Program
The designs will be featured on a $5 gold coin, a $1 silver coin, and a half dollar clad coin.
7/23/2024
Events
GreatCollections Coin, Currency, World Money, and World Coins Auctions
Location: https://www.greatcollections.com/Auction-Archive
Sunday, May 3, 2026
GreatCollections Coin, Currency, World Money, and World Coins Auctions
Location: https://www.greatcollections.com/Auction-Archive
Sunday, May 10, 2026