Braided Hair Cent
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Spanning 1839 to 1857, the Braided Hair Cent catalog contains 33 year-and-mintmark variants. Across the series, the key date is the 1857 Braided Hair Cent at just 333,546 struck and the highest-value variant is the 1844 Braided Hair Cent at up to $50,000 in top grade.
Braided Hair Cent Mintage by Year
Peak 9.9MCombined mintage per year across every strike type (circulated, proof, and specimen) and all mintmarks.
About the Braided Hair Cent
The Braided Hair Cent is a type of large cent designed and minted by the United States Mint between 1839 and 1857. These coins feature a woman with long hair styled in a bun on the obverse side and a laurel wreath on the reverse side. The Braided Hair Cent is the successor to the Classic Head Cent, which was minted from 1808 to 1838.
The obverse of the coin features a bust of Lady Liberty wearing a ribbon tied in a bow atop of her bun adorned with a single star. The phrase “LIBERTY” is above her head and the year of mintage is below her neck. The reverse features a laurel wreath with the words “ONE CENT” inside. The words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” are above the wreath.
The Braided Hair cent was achieved using a process called the Screw Press, which allowed for the image of the coin to have a much higher relief or sharper look than in the previous, hand-cut coins. It was designed by Christian Gobrecht and was issued in three varieties. The first, called the Matron Head cent, featured a distinctly rounder face than the Liberty Braided Hair cent. The second variety was the Young Head cent, which featured a sharper bust and was designed to incorporate both Liberty and the modern style of the time. The third variety was the Coronet Head cent, which featured a larger head and an elongated neck.
The Braided Hair Cent was produced in denominations of 1/100th of a US dollar in copper from 1839 until 1857. The mintage of these coins was much lower than the Classic Head cents and it can be difficult to locate them in good condition, making them a challenge for collectors. The larger size of the Braided Hair cents means that they often suffer from scratches and other wear, so finding a mint-condition example can be difficult.
All in all, the Braided Hair Cent is an interesting collectible coin from the United States Mint. Its design has been praised for its high-relief features and for incorporating both classic and modern styles of the time. However, their low mintage and their difficulty to find in great condition also puts them in high demand. With its historical significance and its beauty, the Braided Hair Cent is a must-have in any coin collection.
Most-collected Braided Hair Cent coins on LuckyCoin
Looking for coins from a specific year across every denomination? Browse US coin values by year →
Which Braided Hair Cent coins do collectors actually own? See the 2026 rarity & ownership report →
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was the Braided Hair Cent minted?
- The Braided Hair Cent was minted by United States from 1839 to 1857.
- How many Braided Hair Cent coins were minted?
- Across every year and mintmark, approximately 70,916,893 Braided Hair Cent coins were struck.
- What is the Braided Hair Cent made of?
- The Braided Hair Cent is made of copper, weighs 10.89 grams, and measures 27.5 mm in diameter.
- How much is a Braided Hair Cent worth?
- Value depends on year, mintmark, and condition. Common dates in average circulated condition trade for near face value, while the rarest varieties in top grade can fetch up to $50,000. See individual year pages for grade-by-grade estimates.