1851 Proof Braided Hair Coronet Head Cent

Coin Details

Description

The 1851 Proof Braided Hair Coronet Head Cent is a proof cent struck at the Philadelphia Mint, part of the Braided Hair Coronet Head Cents 1839-1857 series. PCGS and NGC list an 1851 proof, but CoinWeek reports that no proofs of 1851 are known. The Mint kept no count of the proofs it struck before 1858. 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. Struck during the California Gold Rush era, when vast quantities of western gold transformed the American economy and led to new denominations. 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 #1982.