Braided Hair Half Cent
182+ LuckyCoin collectors track this series
Spanning 1840 to 1857, the Braided Hair Half Cent catalog contains 28 year-and-mintmark variants. Across the series, the key date is the 1857 Braided Hair Half Cent at just 35,180 struck and the highest-value variant is the 1845 Braided Hair Half Cent Proof at up to $39,000 in top grade.
Braided Hair Half Cent · All Strikes Mintage by Year
Peak 148KCombined mintage per year across every strike type (circulated, proof, and specimen) and all mintmarks.
About the Braided Hair Half Cent
The Braided Hair Half Cent coin was produced from 1839 to 1857 by the United States Mint and is known for its well-defined imagery and strong condition. It was the last in the series of “Half Cents” struck by the United States Mint and is considered by some to be amongst the most artistic designs ever used on a coin from the United States. The design of the Braided Hair Half Cent was the creation of accomplished engraver Christian Gobrecht, who was the third chief engraver of the United States Mint. The obverse of the coin features an almost full profile view of Liberty’s head, facing left and wearing a coronet inscribed with “LIBERTY”. It is highlighted with a drapery at the back of her neck and featuring a small knob in front. The reverse of the coin displays a combined shield and arrows in a slightly curved orientation with shallow vertical lines emanating from the central section. Above the shield is an ornate laurel-leaf wreath containing the words “HALF CENT” at the top. The “1/100” value is found just below the wreath. One major factor that makes the Braided Hair Half Cent so popular is the quality of its strike. The many parts of the design on the coin, such as Liberty’s hair and the wreath, are all incredibly well-defined. This allows a collector to purchase a coin with a mirror like finish.
The Braided Hair Half Cent is a rare coin due to its short period of production. However, there are still a few different denominations available to collectors today. Mint State examples can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Most-collected Braided Hair Half Cent coins on LuckyCoin
Looking for coins from a specific year across every denomination? Browse US coin values by year →
Which Braided Hair Half Cent coins do collectors actually own? See the 2026 rarity & ownership report →
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was the Braided Hair Half Cent minted?
- The Braided Hair Half Cent was minted by United States from 1840 to 1857.
- How many Braided Hair Half Cent coins were minted?
- Across every year and mintmark, approximately 544,510 Braided Hair Half Cent coins were struck.
- What is the Braided Hair Half Cent made of?
- The Braided Hair Half Cent is made of copper, weighs 5.44 grams, and measures 23 mm in diameter.
- How much is a Braided Hair Half 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 $39,000. See individual year pages for grade-by-grade estimates.