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Braided Hair Large Cent
The Braided Hair large cent coin was the last of the large cent coins and its history of mintage is very consistent with a large number of coins struck each year with the single exception of one year. Mint standards and methods were higher and errors though still common were much less frequent in this series than those before. However, it does hold the distinction of being the last of the large cent series minted by the United States.
A collector of the Braided Hair cent may find only the minor revisions in this series and that most dates are consistently available. In a word, these are an excellent choice in terms of availability and significance for collectors of copper coins from the early American era.
The design of the Braided Hair large cent coin was not official until 1840. It is interesting to note that The Coronet Head that preceded it had in its last four years begun to change to a younger and version with tighter curls and resembled the Braided Hair large cent (not yet released) more than the Coronet Head series of which they were a part. The design of the Braided Head cent when it was released had even tighter curls, a much sterner more prepossessing countenance and a slimmer face. The size of the coin changed as well as the design.
The Braided Hair cent had a diameter of 27.5 much smaller than the previous large cent series whose diameters measured from 28-29mm. The last in the American large cent series was not only smaller around but thicker as well. This change in thickness might have been because these coins were struck in higher relief than previous coins. This accounts for the fact that they withstood wear well and many more surviving Braided Hair large cent coins can be found in Fine to Very Fine Condition than any other series.
Because so many of these coins survived in surprisingly good condition the pricing on the average Braided Hair coin in good condition is only around $20.00, $40.00 in fine condition and $50.00 in very fine condition. However, as with any coin there are exceptions to the rule. Those exceptions include the 1844/81 and the 1851/81 over dates coins where a Braided Hair large cent can retail at $60.00 for good condition. The final year of the series was 1857 and during that year only 333, 456 of the Braided Hair large cent coins were struck and this rarity makes them more costly with an 1857 Braided Hair cent pricing at around $150 for Good condition and $200.00 for Fine.
The Braided Hair large cent is relatively easy to acquire due to the large numbers struck and the better design that led to a better-preserved coin. However because it was the last of the US large cent coins ever made it holds historical value as well and as such deserves a spot in any collector’s cabinet.
US $27.83
