1853 Proof Braided Hair Coronet Head Cent

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The 1853 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 1853 proof, but CoinWeek reports that no proofs of 1853 are known. 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. 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 #1988.