Design and Specifications of the Braided Hair Half Cent

The Braided Hair Half Cent was the final half cent design produced by the United States Mint. It was a continuation of the Classic Head design but with modified hair styling. Despite low mintages, these coins saw little circulation as the denomination had become unpopular and was eventually discontinued in 1857.
Weight 5.44 grams
Diameter 23.5 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', hair braided, designed by Christian Gobrecht
Reverse Design Wreath surrounding 'HALF CENT' and the denomination as a fraction '1/200', designed by Christian Gobrecht
Years of Minting 1840-1857

Collectibility and Rare Varieties

The condition of Braided Hair Half Cents significantly impacts their value, with uncirculated specimens being extremely rare and valuable. Proof issues, particularly from 1840-1849, are exceptionally rare and highly prized by collectors. Some years, like 1845 and 1848, were only minted as proofs, making them especially valuable. The rarity of these coins is further enhanced by their low mintages and the fact that many were melted down after the denomination was discontinued.
1840 24,000 minted; scarce and highly sought after as a first-year issue
1849 39,864 minted; one of the key dates in the series
1850 39,812 minted; another key date
1857 35,180 minted; last year of issue, making it desirable to collectors

Explore Braided Hair Half Cent Values by Year

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

Most Valuable Braided Hair Half 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
1851 Half Cent, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $415.00 –
1853 Half Cent, BN (Regular Strike) $27.00 – $415.00 –
1850 Half Cent, BN (Regular Strike) $210.00 – $1,550.00 –
1857 Half Cent, BN (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $425.00 –
1854 Half Cent, BN (Regular Strike) $32.00 – $415.00 –
1849 Half Cent, BN (Regular Strike) $32.00 – $700.00 –
1855 Half Cent, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $415.00 –
1856 Half Cent, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $415.00 –
1853 Half Cent, RB (Regular Strike) – $550.00 – $14,500.00
1851 Half Cent Cohen 1, BN (Proof) – $47,500.00 – $65,000.00
1857 Half Cent, BN (Proof) – $4,650.00 – $25,000.00
1850 Half Cent, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,700.00 – $8,500.00
1854 Half Cent, RB (Regular Strike) – $525.00 – $13,000.00
1855 Half Cent, RD (Regular Strike) – $475.00 – $18,000.00
1856 Half Cent, RB (Proof) – $5,250.00 – $37,500.00
1840 Half Cent Original, BN (Proof) $2,250.00 – $4,750.00 –
1840 Half Cent Restrike, BN (Proof) – $4,650.00 – $28,500.00
1841 Half Cent Original, BN (Proof) $2,350.00 – $4,100.00 –
1841 Half Cent Restrike, BN (Proof) $3,450.00 – $4,100.00 –
1842 Half Cent Original, BN (Proof) $3,050.00 – $4,100.00 –
1842 Half Cent Restrike, BN (Proof) $2,550.00 – $4,100.00 –
1843 Half Cent Original, BN (Proof) $2,000.00 – $4,100.00 –
1843 Half Cent Restrike, BN (Proof) $2,550.00 – $4,100.00 –
1844 Half Cent Original, BN (Proof) $3,000.00 – $4,250.00 –
1844 Half Cent Restrike, BN (Proof) – $6,250.00 – $28,500.00
1845 Half Cent Original, BN (Proof) – $16,000.00 – $42,500.00
1845 Half Cent Restrike, BN (Proof) $2,550.00 – $4,100.00 –
1846 Half Cent Original, BN (Proof) – $5,500.00 – $32,500.00
1846 Half Cent Restrike, BN (Proof) – $6,250.00 – $25,000.00
1847 Half Cent Original, BN (Proof) $2,550.00 – $4,100.00 –
1847 Half Cent Restrike, BN (Proof) $2,550.00 – $4,100.00 –
1848 Half Cent Original, BN (Proof) $4,150.00 – $4,200.00 –
1848 Half Cent Restrike, BN (Proof) $2,550.00 – $4,100.00 –
1849 Half Cent Large Date, BN (Proof) – $15,000.00 – $47,500.00
1849 Half Cent Small Date, Original, BN (Proof) $2,400.00 –
1849 Half Cent Small Date, Restrike, BN (Proof) $2,550.00 – $4,100.00 –
1850 Half Cent, BN (Proof) $3,850.00 – $4,100.00 –
1852 Half Cent Restrike, BN (Proof) $2,550.00 – $4,100.00 –
1854 Half Cent, BN (Proof) – $6,250.00 – $30,000.00
1855 Half Cent, BN (Proof) – $4,650.00 – $30,000.00
1856 Half Cent, BN (Proof) – $4,650.00 – $28,500.00
1856 Half Cent Restrike, BN (Proof) – $11,000.00 – $16,500.00
1849 Half Cent, RB (Regular Strike) – $800.00 – $28,500.00
1849 Half Cent Cohen 1, BN (Regular Strike) $32.00 – $525.00 –
1849 Half Cent Cohen 1, RB (Regular Strike) – $700.00 – $6,000.00
1850 Half Cent Cohen 1, BN (Regular Strike) $235.00 – $1,300.00 –
1850 Half Cent Cohen 1, RD (Regular Strike) – $53,500.00
1851 Half Cent, RB (Regular Strike) – $675.00 – $8,500.00
1851 Half Cent, RD (Regular Strike) – $775.00 – $32,500.00
1851 Half Cent Cohen 1, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $415.00 –
1851 Half Cent Cohen 1, RB (Regular Strike) – $600.00 – $8,250.00
1851 Half Cent Cohen 1, RD (Regular Strike) – $950.00 – $38,500.00
1853 Half Cent Cohen 1, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $415.00 –
1853 Half Cent Cohen 1, RB (Regular Strike) – $525.00 – $3,750.00
1854 Half Cent, RD (Regular Strike) – $2,100.00 – $10,000.00
1854 Half Cent Cohen 1, BN (Regular Strike) $32.00 – $415.00 –
1854 Half Cent Cohen 1, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,000.00 – $9,750.00
1854 Half Cent Cohen 1, RD (Regular Strike) – $2,100.00 – $9,250.00
1855 Half Cent, RB (Regular Strike) – $460.00 – $9,000.00
1855 Half Cent Cohen 1, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $415.00 –
1855 Half Cent Cohen 1, RB (Regular Strike) – $460.00 – $2,250.00
1855 Half Cent Cohen 1, RD (Regular Strike) – $500.00 – $23,500.00
1856 Half Cent, RB (Regular Strike) – $475.00 – $8,250.00
1856 Half Cent, RD (Regular Strike) – $1,000.00 – $70,000.00
1856 Half Cent Cohen 1, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $475.00 –
1856 Half Cent Cohen 1, RB (Regular Strike) – $850.00 – $8,750.00
1856 Half Cent Cohen 1, RD (Regular Strike) – $1,350.00 – $50,000.00
1857 Half Cent, RB (Regular Strike) – $500.00 – $10,500.00
1857 Half Cent, RD (Regular Strike) – $825.00 – $32,500.00
1857 Half Cent Cohen 1, BN (Regular Strike) $34.00 – $425.00 –
1857 Half Cent Cohen 1, RB (Regular Strike) – $475.00 – $2,750.00
1857 Half Cent Cohen 1, RD (Regular Strike) – $800.00 – $16,500.00
1840 Half Cent Original, RB (Proof) – $5,750.00 – $42,500.00
1840 Half Cent Original, RD (Proof) – $9,750.00
1840 Half Cent Restrike, RB (Proof) – $9,000.00 – $37,500.00
1840 Res Half Cent Reverse of 1856, RD (Proof) – $25,000.00
1840 Res Half Cent Second Restrike, BN (Proof) – $10,000.00 – $17,500.00
1841 Half Cent Original, RB (Proof) – $5,250.00 – $42,500.00
1841 Half Cent Original, RD (Proof) – $6,250.00 – $47,500.00
1841 Half Cent Restrike, RB (Proof) – $5,250.00 – $36,500.00
1841 Half Cent 2nd Restrike, BN (Proof) – $16,000.00 – $35,000.00
1842 Half Cent Original, RB (Proof) – $9,000.00 – $47,500.00
1842 Half Cent Original, RD (Proof) – $52,500.00 – $87,500.00
1842 Half Cent Restrike, RB (Proof) – $5,250.00 – $47,500.00
1842 Half Cent 1st Restrike, Rev. of 1856, RB (Proof) – $4,250.00 – $45,000.00
1842 Half Cent 2nd Restrike, Rev. of 1840, BN (Proof) – $9,000.00 – $30,000.00
1842 Half Cent 2nd Restrike, Rev. of 1840, RB (Proof) – $11,000.00 – $27,500.00
1843 Half Cent Original, RB (Proof) – $25,000.00 – $37,500.00
1843 Half Cent Original, CAM (Proof) – $30,000.00 – $95,000.00
1843 Half Cent Restrike, RB (Proof) – $5,250.00 – $36,000.00
1843 Res Half Cent Reverse of 1856, BN (Proof) – $10,000.00 – $25,000.00
1844 Half Cent Original, RB (Proof) – $7,000.00 – $32,500.00
1844 Half Cent Original, RD (Proof) – $8,000.00 – $18,000.00
1844 Half Cent Restrike, RB (Proof) – $9,000.00 – $37,500.00
1844 Res Half Cent Reverse of 1840, BN (Proof) – $22,500.00 – $27,500.00
1845 Half Cent Original, RB (Proof) – $17,000.00 – $67,500.00
1845 Half Cent Restrike, RB (Proof) – $5,250.00 – $65,000.00
1846 Half Cent Original, RB (Proof) – $7,000.00 – $40,000.00
1846 Half Cent Restrike, RB (Proof) – $9,000.00 – $24,000.00
1846 Res Half Cent Reverse of 1840, BN (Proof) – $17,500.00
1847 Half Cent Original, RB (Proof) – $9,000.00 – $48,500.00
1847 Half Cent Original, RD (Proof) – $12,750.00 – $52,500.00
1847 Half Cent Restrike, RB (Proof) – $5,250.00 – $52,500.00
1847 Half Cent Reverse of 1840, BN (Proof) – $31,500.00
1847 Half Cent Reverse of 1840, RB (Proof) – $22,500.00
1848 Half Cent Original, RB (Proof) – $8,500.00 – $67,500.00
1848 Half Cent Restrike, RB (Proof) – $5,250.00 – $36,000.00
1848 Half Cent Restrike, RD (Proof) – $6,250.00 – $57,500.00
1848 Half Cent 1st Restrike, Rev of 1856, BN (Proof) $5,000.00 –
1848 Half Cent 1st Restrike, Rev of 1856, RB (Proof) – $18,500.00
1849 Half Cent Small Date, Original, RB (Proof) – $9,000.00 – $52,500.00
1849 Half Cent Small Date, Restrike, RB (Proof) – $13,500.00 – $85,000.00
1850 Half Cent, RB (Proof) – $5,250.00 – $92,500.00
1851 Half Cent Cohen 1, RB (Proof) – $75,000.00
1854 Half Cent, RB (Proof) – $9,000.00 – $20,500.00
1855 Half Cent, RB (Proof) – $9,000.00 – $20,500.00
1855 Half Cent, RD (Proof) – $12,750.00 – $28,000.00
1855 Half Cent Cohen 1, BN (Proof) – $3,850.00 – $17,500.00
1855 Half Cent Cohen 1, RB (Proof) – $7,250.00 – $18,000.00
1856 Half Cent, RD (Proof) – $20,000.00
1857 Half Cent, RB (Proof) – $5,250.00 – $36,000.00
1852 Half Cent Original, Large Berries, RD (Proof) – $600,000.00
1852 Half Cent Restrike, RB (Proof) – $5,250.00 – $36,000.00
1852 Res Half Cent Small Berries, BN (Proof) $2,550.00 – $3,700.00 –
1852 Res Half Cent Small Berries, RB (Proof) – $4,250.00 – $23,500.00

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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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