1843 Braided Hair Coronet Head Cent - Proof Petite Head, Sm Letters

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The 1843 Braided Hair Coronet Head Cent - Proof Petite Head, Sm Letters is a proof cent struck at the Philadelphia Mint, part of the Braided Hair Coronet Head Cents 1839-1857 series. A little more than a dozen 1843 proofs are known, all Petite Head, Small Letters coins from N-14, a die pair used only for proofs (NGC). Proof mintages were not recorded until 1858, so there is no Mint figure for this date. 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. Minted during the age of Jacksonian democracy and the rise of the common man, as new branch mints opened in Charlotte, Dahlonega, and New Orleans. 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. Struck in copper, weighing 10.89 grams, 27.5 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Cataloged as PCGS #1958.