1851 Braided Hair Coronet Head Cent - 51/81

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Description

This is the 1851/81 variety of the 1851 Braided Hair Coronet Head Cent, die pair N-3. It is not a die re-dated from an earlier year: the date punch was first used upside down and then the right way up, and an inverted 18 still shows under the 51. The effect is in the die, so every coin struck from it carries the same remnant in the same position. Any mintage given below counts the entire issue for this date and mint, not this variety: a variety comes from one die or a few, and how many coins they struck was never separately recorded. The 1851 Braided Hair Coronet Head Cent - 51/81 was struck at the Philadelphia Mint as a cent in the Braided Hair Coronet Head Cents 1839-1857 series. The 1851 Braided Hair Coronet Head Cent issue as a whole had a mintage of 9.9 million; how many coins carry this variety is unknown. 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. On the 1851/81 (N-3), the date was first punched upside down, and an inverted 18 shows under the 51. Struck in copper, weighing 10.89 grams, 27.5 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Cataloged as PCGS #1895.