Braided Hair Cent (1839 - 1857)

Overview

From 1839 to 1857, the United States government issued the Braided Hair Cent, which is the culmination of the history of the Large Cent series. 1839 was the year that saw the introduction of the Braided Hair large cents, which were a revision of the old Matron head design. Aside from the contour of the head, the most noticeable distinction between the two is the braiding of the hair that extends from Liberty's ear to her forehead.

The Braided Hair Cent emerged during a period of major economic change in the United States. Large pennies have been a regular kind of coinage used in daily transactions since their debut in 1793. Their weight and inconvenience were an issue.

In 1839, the technical abilities of the personnel at the mint had advanced to the point that the discrepancies in individual dies were nearly microscopic in detail. This contrasted with the large variances that existed on earlier Large Cents, such as stemless wreaths, misnumbered stars, wrong fractions, and so on.

• • A wonderfully drawn, braided hairstyle that is laced with beads and ribbons is shown on the obverse of the coin, which depicts Lady Liberty facing left. The year is written underneath her face, and the word "LIBERTY" is engraved on the coronet that she wears.
• • On the reverse side, there is a wreath of laurel that surrounds the word "ONE CENT," and the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" encircle the edge of the wreath.
• • The edge is plain, just like it was in the large cents that came before it.

• • Less than twenty specimens have been confirmed for several dates before to 1855; generally, there are less than fifty samples from 1855 until the end of the series.
• • Apart from the Silly Head and Booby Head variants created in 1839, there also were the 1839/6, 1851/81, 1855 "Knob on Ear," and 1857 Large and Small Dates. After 1857, not many large cents were minted. Together with the half cents, they reached a position where manufacturing was not possible.

For numismatists and collectors alike, this historic coin offers a fascinating look at the evolution of American currency and the minting process that occurred during the 19th century. It is an approachable yet intriguing addition to any collection since it comes in a variety of conditions and varieties.