1857 Braided Hair Coronet Head Cent - Proof Small Date

Coin Details

Auction Record

$11,163 PR66 01-09-2013 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1857 Braided Hair Coronet Head Cent - Proof Small Date is a proof cent struck at the Philadelphia Mint, part of the Braided Hair Coronet Head Cents 1839-1857 series. With a mintage of 238, this is an extremely rare issue — the lowest mintage among 3 mint variants, representing only less than 1% of total production. 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. Final year of the large cent denomination. Rising copper prices and the impracticality of the large coin ended 64 years of large cent production. As a proof issue, this coin was struck multiple times on specially prepared polished planchets using polished dies, producing mirror-like fields and frosted design elements prized by collectors. Struck at the original U.S. Mint facility, in continuous operation since 1792. Auction record: $11,163 PR66 01-09-2013 Heritage Auctions. Struck in copper, weighing 10.89 grams, 27.5 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Cataloged as PCGS #2000.