1843 Braided Hair Half Cent
Base
About This Coin
The 1843 Braided Hair Half Cent is a United States cent from the Braided Hair Half Cents 1840-1857 series — 4th of 18 years in the series. In 1843, coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a combined mintage of 51. This ranks 9th of 18 years by total mintage, below the series median of 56. The obverse features Liberty facing left with braided hair swept up and held by a beaded cord, wearing a headband inscribed LIBERTY and the reverse displays a wreath enclosing ONE CENT. Petite Head and Mature Head subtypes exist. The 1843 Obverse of 1842 is a collected variety. Struck in copper, weighing 5.44 grams, 23 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Estimated market value across variants is approximately $7.1K. A notable auction result reached $89K in PR66 grade at Goldberg Auctioneers. Designed by Christian Gobrecht.
Value Estimates
Values as of May 2026 — range across all strike types, reflecting typical grades (G-4 through MS-63). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.
Specifications
Strike Types & Varieties(2)
1843 Proof Braided Hair Half Cent - Original
1843 Proof Braided Hair Half Cent - Restrike
Other Base Coins in This Series
Collector Essentials
Tools and references for building and protecting your coin collection.
10x-20x Jeweler's Loupe
A must-have for examining coin details, mint marks, and surface quality
Red Book — Guide to U.S. Coins
The essential annual reference for U.S. coin values, history, and mintages
Coin Albums & Storage
Archival-quality albums and holders to protect and display your collection
USB Digital Microscope
Capture detailed images for documentation and community submissions
As an Amazon Associate, NumisDex earns from qualifying purchases.