Braided Hair Cents

(1839-1857)

By 1839, few people inside or outside the U.S. Mint were satisfied with the large cent design, least of all its creator, Chief Engraver Christian Gobrecht. But this was nothing new; from its very beginnings, the large cent had suffered abuse and ridicule. First of all, there were the designs. Though loved by present-day collectors, initial reaction wasn’t quite so kind. Contemporary and modern names describing Miss Liberty vividly illustrate the public’s disdain. From the “Liberty in a fright” of the Chain cents through the Classic Head’s “fat mistress” to the “obese ward boss” of the Matron Head, criticism never ceased. Now Gobrecht was faced with the same for his “Silly” and “Booby” head cents of 1839. It was clearly time for a change.

Art historians and numismatists believe that Gobrecht’s inspiration for the new 1839 design was the classic figure of Lo.... (Expand Text)

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1840 BRAIDED HAIR 1C, SMALL/LARGE 18 MS66 Red Brown PCGS

SMALL/LARGE 18. DISTINCTIVELY CLEAR REPUNCHED DATE. N-2. GEM RED BROWNISH SURFACES. SOLE HIGHEST GRADED. CAC.
$35,750.00

1848 BRAIDED HAIR 1C PR64 Red Brown PCGS

GEM PROOF. ONLY 7 STRUCK. CAC.
$26,400.00

1848 BRAIDED HAIR 1C PR64 Red Brown PCGS

GEM PROOF WITH LOTS OF RED SURFACES. ONLY 7 COINS STRUCK. CAC.
$26,400.00

1849 BRAIDED HAIR 1C PR64+ PCGS

GEM GLOSSY BROWN PROOF SURFACES. ONLY 20 STRUCK. CAC.
$22,000.00

1849 BRAIDED HAIR 1C PR64+ Red Brown PCGS

VERY CHOICE RED BROWN LUSTROUS SURFACES. NEWCOMB-18. RARITY-6. ONLY 20 STRUCK. CAC.
$30,250.00

1850 BRAIDED HAIR 1C PR64+ Brown PCGS

GEM LUSTROUS SURFACES WITH ORIGINAL MINT RED EVIDENT. ONLY 8 COINS STRUCK. CAC.
$33,000.00

1856 BRAIDED HAIR 1C, SLANTED 5 PR65 Red PCGS

SLANTED 5. GEM RED SURFACES. ONLY 100 STRUCK. JUST A PR65+ GRADED HIGHER.
$77,000.00

1856 BRAIDED HAIR 1C, SLANTED 5 PR66 Red Brown PCGS

SLANTED 5. ONLY 100 STRUCK. TIED FOR HIGHEST GRADED. CAC.
$46,750.00