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1856 1/2c MS BN

Greysheet & CPG® Values
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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: 684
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 #: 1236
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Coin Value History
1856 1/2c MS BN
Value By Grade
1856 1/2c MS BN
CPG (retail) values
Value by grade is available to subscribers. Subscribe to View

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
GSID:684 PCGS:1236 Shop related

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Shop related
Grade CAC CPG Value (Retail) Greysheet Price (Wholesale)
MS65 CAC $1,500 $1,234
MS65 - $1,250 $1,234
MS64 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS64 - $1,234 $1,234
MS63 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS63 - $1,234 $1,234
MS62 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS62 - $1,234 $1,234
MS61 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS61 - $1,234 $1,234
MS60 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS60 - $1,234 $1,234
AU58 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU58 - $1,234 $1,234
AU55 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU55 - $1,234 $1,234
AU53 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU53 - $1,234 $1,234
AU50 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU50 - $1,234 $1,234
XF45 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF45 - $1,234 $1,234
XF40 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF40 - $1,234 $1,234
VF35 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF35 - $1,234 $1,234
VF30 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF30 - $1,234 $1,234
VF25 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF25 - $1,234 $1,234
VF20 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF20 - $1,234 $1,234
F15 CAC $1,234 $1,234
F15 - $1,234 $1,234
F12 CAC $1,234 $1,234
F12 - $1,234 $1,234
VG10 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VG10 - $1,234 $1,234
VG8 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VG8 - $1,234 $1,234
G6 CAC $1,234 $1,234
G6 - $1,234 $1,234
G4 CAC $1,234 $1,234
G4 - $1,234 $1,234
AG3 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AG3 - $1,234 $1,234

Auction Prices

Recent public sale records for this item
See all
1856 1/2 C C-1, B-2a, R.1, MS64 Brown PCGS. CAC. PCGS Population: 31 in 64, 7 finer. CAC: 8 in 64, 4 finer (10/25). CDN: $4...
$1,680
Sold 12/29/2025
Heritage Auctions
1856 1/2 C C-1, B-2a, R.1, XF45 PCGS. PCGS Population: (31/436). Mintage 40,430....
$139
Sold 4/7/2025
Heritage Auctions
1856 1/2 C C-1, B-2a, R.1, MS62 Brown ANACS. Mintage 40,430....
$480
Sold 12/30/2024
Heritage Auctions
1856 1/2 C C-1, B-2a, R.1, AU50 PCGS. PCGS Population: (0/14). Mintage 40,430....
$149
Sold 7/9/2024
Heritage Auctions
1856 1/2 C C-1, B-2a, R.1, AU55 NGC. NGC Census: (37/332). PCGS Population: (1/13). CDN: $140 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU55....
$169
Sold 5/28/2024
Heritage Auctions
1856 1/2 C C-1, B-2a, R.1, MS63 Brown PCGS. PCGS Population: (75/37). NGC Census: (0/0). CDN: $330 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS ...
$384
Sold 2/26/2024
Heritage Auctions
1856 1/2 C C-1, MS61 Brown NGC. NGC Census: (55/210). PCGS Population: (0/13). CDN: $200 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS61. Mint...
$216
Sold 12/5/2023
Heritage Auctions
1856 1/2 C C-1, B-2a, R.1, AU53 NGC. NGC Census: (25/362). PCGS Population: (0/14). CDN: $130 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU53....
$164
Sold 8/15/2023
Heritage Auctions
1856 1/2 C AU58 PCGS. PCGS Population: (87/196 and 0/0+). NGC Census: (0/0 and 0/0+). CDN: $150 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU5...
$276
Sold 4/11/2023
Heritage Auctions
1856 1/2 C VF35 ANACS. Mintage 40,430. ...
$66
Sold 1/24/2023
Heritage Auctions
1856 1/2c PCGS XF40
$121
Sold 11/7/2022
DLRC
1856 1/2 C -- Cleaning -- PCGS Genuine. UNC Details. NGC Census: (0/0). PCGS Population: (7/158). CDN: $180 Whsle. Bid for ...
$200
Sold 7/4/2017
Heritage Auctions
1856 1/2c PCGS MS65 BN
$1,185
Sold 5/22/2017
DLRC
1856 1/2 C C-1, B-2a, R.1, VF30 NGC. NGC Census: (3/332). PCGS Population (1/3). Mintage: 40,430. ...
$84
Sold 7/28/2015
Heritage Auctions
1856 1/2 C VF20 PCGS. PCGS Population (2/313). NGC Census: (0/0). Mintage: 40,430. Numismedia Wsl. Price for problem free N...
$68
Sold 11/18/2014
Heritage Auctions
1856 B-1, C-1, R.1, MS64+ Brown PCGS. CAC. Our EAC Grade MS62. ...
$900
Sold 8/22/2022
Heritage Auctions
1856 1/2 C C-1, B-2a, R.1, XF45 PCGS. PCGS Population: (1/14). NGC Census: (18/402). CDN: $90 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF45....
$149
Sold 5/28/2024
Heritage Auctions
1856 1/2 C MS62 Brown PCGS. PCGS Population: (69/112). NGC Census: (0/0). CDN: $230 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS62. Mintage 4...
$444
Sold 8/28/2023
Heritage Auctions
1856 1/2 C -- Scratched -- ANACS. AU50 Details. Mintage 40,430....
$129
Sold 8/29/2023
Heritage Auctions
1856 1/2 C AU55 PCGS. PCGS Population: (75/284). NGC Census: (0/0). CDN: $140 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU55. Mintage 40,430....
$192
Sold 11/27/2023
Heritage Auctions
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