Design and Specifications of the Braided Hair Cent

The Braided Hair Cent, also known as the Late Date Large Cent, was the last of the large cent designs. It represented a refinement of the earlier Coronet Cent design, with Liberty’s hair styled in a braid rather than a bun. This series marked the end of an era for large cents before the transition to smaller-sized cents in 1857.
Weight 10.89 grams
Diameter 27.5 mm
Mint Marks No mint marks used; all were minted in Philadelphia
Composition 100% copper
Obverse Design Liberty facing left with a coronet inscribed 'LIBERTY', surrounded by 13 stars, designed by Christian Gobrecht
Reverse Design A wreath surrounding the words 'ONE CENT' and the denomination 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA', designed by Christian Gobrecht
Years of Minting 1839-1857

Collectibility and Rare Varieties

The condition of Braided Hair Cents significantly impacts their value, with uncirculated specimens commanding substantial premiums. Varieties such as the 1843 ‘Petite Head’ and the 1855 ‘Slanting 5’s’ can increase rarity and value. Additionally, coins with original red color are highly prized by collectors.
1839 600,000 minted; scarce and valuable in higher grades
1851 9,889,707 minted; common date but valuable in higher grades
1853 6,641,131 minted; notable for its 'knob ear' variety
1857 333,546 minted; key date due to being the final year of issue

Explore Braided Hair Cent Values by Year

1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857

Most Valuable Braided Hair Cent

This section highlights the most valuable coins in the series, based on PCGS price guides. The table shows price ranges for each coin in various conditions.

Coin Name Circulated Price Uncirculated Price
1847 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $500.00 –
1851 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $225.00 –
1853 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $350.00 – $35,000.00
1850 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $285.00 –
1848 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $18.00 – $375.00 –
1852 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $215.00 –
1847/47 Penny Large/Small 47, BN (Regular Strike) $22.00 – $1,425.00 –
1849 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $22.00 – $435.00 –
1846 Penny Small Date, BN (Regular Strike) $26.00 – $375.00 –
1854 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $215.00 –
1845 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $360.00 –
1855 Penny Upright 55, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $265.00 –
1844 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $550.00 –
1840 Penny Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $775.00 –
1856 Penny Slanted 5, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $250.00 –
1843 Penny Petite Head, Small Letters, BN (Regular Strike) $15.00 – $510.00 –
1857 Penny Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $535.00 –
1842 Penny Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $550.00 –
1841 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $750.00 –
1851/81 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $22.00 – $550.00 –
1846 Penny Tall Date, BN (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $825.00 –
1853 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $255.00 –
1848 Penny, BN (Proof) – $6,750.00 – $36,000.00
1846 Penny Medium Date, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $535.00 –
1851/81 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5,000.00 – $20,000.00
1855 Penny Slanted 55, BN (Regular Strike) $14.00 – $275.00 –
1843 Penny Mature Head, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $675.00 –
1843 Penny Petite Head, Lg Letters, BN (Regular Strike) $22.00 – $875.00 –
1842 Penny Small Date, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $665.00 –
1856 Penny Upright 5, BN (Regular Strike) $18.00 – $225.00 –
1845 Penny, BN (Proof) – $11,500.00 – $36,000.00
1840 Penny Small Date, BN (Regular Strike) $22.00 – $950.00 –
1844/81 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $1,650.00 –
1857 Penny Small Date, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $575.00 –
1841 Penny, BN (Proof) – $5,500.00 – $29,500.00
1854 Penny, BN (Proof) – $4,500.00 – $14,000.00
1850 Penny, RB (Regular Strike) – $310.00 – $9,000.00
1854 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $1,350.00 – $15,000.00
1840 Penny Small/Large 18, BN (Regular Strike) $37.00 – $2,500.00 –
1855 Penny Knob on Ear, BN (Regular Strike) $24.00 – $610.00 –
1844 Penny Newcomb 7, BN (Regular Strike) $32.00 – $600.00 –
1854 Penny, RB (Regular Strike) – $275.00 – $2,700.00
1839 Penny Type of 1840, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $950.00 –
1843 Penny Petite Head, Sm Letters, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,350.00 – $15,000.00
1840 Penny Small/Large 18, BN (Proof) – $5,500.00 – $22,500.00
1842 Penny, BN (Proof) – $5,000.00 – $27,500.00
1843 Penny Petite Head, Sm Letters, BN (Proof) – $8,500.00 – $40,000.00
1844 Penny, BN (Proof) – $12,500.00 – $23,500.00
1846 Penny, BN (Proof) – $7,000.00 – $38,500.00
1846 Penny Tall Date, BN (Proof) – $4,500.00 – $32,500.00
1847 Penny, BN (Proof) – $12,500.00 – $26,000.00
1849 Penny, BN (Proof) – $7,250.00 – $21,500.00
1850 Penny, BN (Proof) – $7,500.00 – $40,000.00
1853 Penny, BN (Proof) – $40,000.00
1855 Penny Slanted 55, BN (Proof) – $4,000.00 – $13,500.00
1856 Penny Slanted 5, BN (Proof) – $5,750.00 – $16,000.00
1857 Penny Small Date, BN (Proof) – $4,500.00 – $11,500.00
1839 Penny Type of 1840, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,150.00 – $45,000.00
1839 Penny N-8 Type of 1840, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $975.00 –
1839 Penny N-8 Type of 1840, RB (Regular Strike) – $3,650.00 – $45,000.00
1840 Penny Large Date, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,100.00 – $13,500.00
1840 Penny Large Date, RD (Regular Strike) – $4,000.00 – $45,000.00
1840 Penny Small Date, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,000.00 – $20,000.00
1840 Penny Small/Large 18, RB (Regular Strike) – $3,600.00 – $30,000.00
1840 Penny N-5 Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $800.00 –
1840 Penny N-6 Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $800.00 –
1840 Penny N-6 Large Date, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,150.00 – $15,000.00
1840 Penny N-8 Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $800.00 –
1840 Penny N-8 Large Date, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,150.00 – $6,750.00
1840 Penny N-9 Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $32.00 – $800.00 –
1840 Penny N-10 Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $800.00 –
1840 Penny N-10 Large Date, RB (Regular Strike) – $6,750.00
1840 Penny N-1 Small Date, BN (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $975.00 –
1840 Penny N-1 Small Date, RB (Regular Strike) – $21,500.00
1840 Penny N-3 Small Date, BN (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $950.00 –
1840 Penny N-3 Small Date, RB (Regular Strike) – $2,750.00 – $18,500.00
1840 Penny N-12 Small Date, BN (Regular Strike) $44.00 – $1,100.00 –
1840 Penny N-2 Small/Large 18, BN (Regular Strike) $68.00 – $2,600.00 –
1840 Penny N-2 Small/Large 18, RB (Regular Strike) – $3,700.00 – $25,000.00
1841 Penny, RB (Regular Strike) – $2,500.00 – $15,500.00
1841 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $9,000.00
1841 Penny Newcomb 2, BN (Regular Strike) $42.00 – $850.00 –
1841 Penny Newcomb 3, BN (Regular Strike) $525.00 –
1841 Penny Newcomb 5, BN (Regular Strike) $900.00 – $1,325.00 –
1841 Penny Newcomb 6, BN (Regular Strike) $42.00 – $535.00 –
1841 Penny Newcomb 6, RB (Regular Strike) – $600.00 – $4,250.00
1841 Penny Newcomb 7, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $850.00 –
1841 Penny Newcomb 7, RB (Regular Strike) – $2,150.00 – $15,750.00
1842 Penny Large Date, RB (Regular Strike) – $725.00 – $10,000.00
1842 Penny Large Date, RD (Regular Strike) – $9,250.00 – $40,000.00
1842 Penny Small Date, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,800.00 – $17,500.00
1842 Penny Small Date, RD (Regular Strike) – $30,000.00 – $90,000.00
1842 Penny N-4 Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $650.00 –
1842 Penny N-4 Large Date, RB (Regular Strike) – $6,000.00
1842 Penny N-6 Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $575.00 –
1842 Penny N-6 Large Date, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,750.00 – $4,500.00
1842 Penny N-7 Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $425.00 – $600.00 –
1842 Penny N-7 Large Date, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,000.00 – $6,000.00
1842 Penny N-8 Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $38.00 – $575.00 –
1842 Penny N-8 Large Date, RB (Regular Strike) – $775.00 – $5,500.00
1842 Penny N-9 Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $38.00 – $575.00 –
1842 Penny N-2 Small Date, BN (Regular Strike) $38.00 – $685.00 –
1843 Penny Petite Head, Sm Letters, RD (Regular Strike) – $14,750.00 – $45,000.00
1843 Penny Petite Head, Lg Letters, RB (Regular Strike) – $2,000.00 – $28,500.00
1843 Penny Mature Head, RB (Regular Strike) – $2,250.00 – $5,250.00
1843 Penny N-2 Petite Head Sm Lt, BN (Regular Strike) $32.00 – $535.00 –
1843 Penny N-8 Petite Head Sm Lt, BN (Regular Strike) $32.00 – $535.00 –
1843 Penny N-8 Petite Head Sm Lt, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,400.00 – $9,650.00
1843 Penny N-9 Petite Head Sm Lt, BN (Regular Strike) – $650.00 – $1,600.00
1843 Penny N-10 Petite Head Sm Lt, BN (Regular Strike) – $775.00 – $4,750.00
1843 Penny N-11 Petite Head Sm Lt, BN (Regular Strike) $100.00 – $550.00 –
1843 Penny N-15 Petite Head Sm Lt, BN (Regular Strike) – $675.00 – $13,650.00
1843 Penny N-4 Petite Head Lg Lt, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $900.00 –
1843 Penny N-4 Petite Head Lg Lt, RB (Regular Strike) – $2,100.00 – $28,750.00
1843 Penny N-5 Mature Hd Lg Lt, BN (Regular Strike) $250.00 – $600.00 –
1843 Penny N-6 Mature Hd Lg Lt, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $615.00 –
1843 Penny N-6 Mature Hd Lg Lt, RB (Regular Strike) – $5,400.00
1844 Penny, RB (Regular Strike) – $950.00 – $8,500.00
1844/81 Penny, RB (Regular Strike) – $10,000.00 – $42,000.00
1844 Penny Newcomb 1, BN (Regular Strike) $26.00 – $600.00 –
1844 Penny Newcomb 3, BN (Regular Strike) – $650.00 – $3,850.00
1844 Penny Newcomb 4, BN (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $600.00 –
1844 Penny Newcomb 5, BN (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $575.00 –
1844 Penny Newcomb 6, BN (Regular Strike) $900.00 – $910.00 –
1844/81 Penny Newcomb 2, BN (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $1,750.00 –
1844/81 Penny Newcomb 2, RB (Regular Strike) – $42,500.00
1845 Penny, RB (Regular Strike) – $675.00 – $8,000.00
1845 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3,600.00 – $11,000.00
1845 Penny Newcomb 1, BN (Regular Strike) $65.00 – $615.00 –
1845 Penny Newcomb 2, BN (Regular Strike) $34.00 – $380.00 –
1845 Penny Newcomb 4, BN (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $390.00 –

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Chris McPherson is a lifelong collector turned shop owner who opened ChrisMcPherson's Souvenir Shop in 2005. With over 20 years as a professional antique dealer and appraiser, Chris expertly curates a selection of the most unique political, pop culture, and historic collectibles available. His passion is hunting one-of-a-kind artifacts and sharing the fascinating stories behind them. Chris graduated with a BA in American History, informing his specialty in political memorabilia. As a seasoned antique hunter, Chris utilizes his skills to deliver an ever-changing inventory of must-see relics and conversation pieces to his shop.

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