Braided Hair Cent 1c 1839-1857 PR RD [Type]

Designer: Christian Gobrecht. Weight: 10.89 grams. Composition: Copper. Diameter: 27.5 mm. Edge: Plain. Mint: Philadelphia.

Key to Collecting: Examples are plentiful in all circulated grades. Mint State specimens range from scarce to very scarce for the earlier dates, but in the context of such coins being plentiful from 1850 onward, those of 1850 to 1856 are particularly so. However, those of 1839 through the early 1840’s are quite scarce. Cents of 1843 to 1849 are found in lustrous brown Mint State, but are very rare with original bright orange (“red”) surfaces. Cents of all dates 1850 to 1856 are generally available in nearly full mint red, but often with flecks or spots, these coins tracing their origin to hoards of long ago. Cents of 1857 are scarce and are hardly ever seen full mint red.

Aspects of Striking and Appearance: Check the denticles, star centers, and leaf details. Some are struck on “flaky” (laminated) planchets.

Proof Coins: Very rare for issues prior to 1854. Those of 1854 to 1857 were made up to the extent of a hundred or so of each date.