1857 Braided Hair Half Cent

The 1857 Braided Hair Half Cent is a coin that is desirable by any and every coin collector out there. The reason for this is due to the fact that this Half Cent was the last of its kind, and also the last Half Cent ever produced. There are so many reasons why this coin is incredibly popular, but in the same breath it must also be mentioned that there are ever few of these coins remaining for sale.

On the obverse side of the coin, the center of the face is dominated by the image of Lady Liberty, who appears facing leftward. The image of Lady Liberty is raised from the face of the coin. Inscribed within a band that is resting on her head, you will find the word “Liberty.” Around the outside of the central image there are 13 stars, representative of the 13 original colonies of the United States. Beneath the central imagery is inscribed the 1857 year of minting.

On the reverse side of the coin, the center is marked by an inscription marking the “Half Cent” face value. Around the face value inscription there is a wreath, tied together by a ribbon and completely encircling the face value. Around the outside of the wreath, there is yet another inscription, this one reading “United States of America.” Finally, on both sides of the coin, there are notches around the very outer edges which give the coin a bit of added texture.

Grading the 1857 Braided Hair Half Cent

For collectors, the condition of the coin means everything, we all know that. Beyond that, however, collectors interested in the 1857 Braided Hair Half Cent take special precautions due to the overwhelming of counterfeits on the market today. Thanks to this, collectors will only settle for those coins that have been graded and certified as being authentic. Below, we have outlined the different coin grades as well as what they mean as far as the coin’s condition.

Uncirculated: If an 1857 Braided Hair Half Cent is determined to be of Uncirculated grade, this means that the coin has been preserved in perfect condition. Though there are almost no Uncirculated 1857 Half Cents on the market today, they are still incredibly valuable in the eyes of just about every collector.

Extremely Fine: If a coin is determined to be of Extremely Fine grade, this means that the coin will be in absolutely pristine condition save for a few minor flaws. While these flaws might be invisible to the naked eye, they are uncovered in the grading process and these flaws separate the coin from Uncirculated pieces.

Fine: If a coin is determined to be of Fine grade, this means that the coin will have been circulated a good bit, and will show signs of that circulation. These coins will show things like light scratching and some smoothing, the overall raised imagery and lettering will still be somewhat well-preserved.

Good: Good is the grade that is given to 1857 Braided Hair Half Cents that have been heavily circulated and heavily damaged. These pieces were circulated for a long period of time and damaged a lot. Though they have seen their better days, these pieces are still sought after by collectors of all types.

Pricing the 1857 Braided Hair Half Cent

In terms of determining a price for the 1857 Braided Hair Half Cent, this is something that can be done only once you take into consideration a few different factors. First and foremost, the condition of the coin is of the utmost importance. If the piece has been well-preserved, it will fetch a higher asking price than those that have been heavily damaged. Below you will find a chart aimed at giving you a better idea of what you might be asked to pay for a graded 1857 Braided Hair Half Cent.

Half Cents

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1857 Braided Hair	N/A	$100	$180	$260
Source: Red Book