1854 Proof Cent Pattern - Pollock-187

Coin Details

Auction Record

$5,040 • PR64 BN PCGS CAC • 04-2019 • Heritage Auctions

Description

Pollock-187 encompasses the 1854 Braided Hair cent pattern struck in copper and bronze from the same die pair as Judd-160 and Judd-161. The obverse features the familiar Braided Hair or Coronet Head portrait of Liberty facing left, adapted from the regular-issue large cent design by Christian Gobrecht but reduced to a smaller diameter and notably lacking the obverse stars that appear on regular large cents. This starless presentation gives the coin a distinctive open-field appearance. The reverse displays a proportionately smaller wreath than the regular large cent, enclosing the denomination. Judd (1982) differentiates copper from bronze by weight: approximately 100 grains for copper and 96 grains for bronze, though Pollock (1994) lists a wider range from 90.9 to 100 grains plus two heavier pieces at 113.4 and 113.9 grains that are presumed to be restrikes. PCGS recommends non-destructive compositional analysis to determine the actual alloy, as copper and bronze cannot be reliably distinguished by visual inspection alone. The diameter is close to that of a quarter dollar, representing an intermediate step in the Mint's experiments to find the optimal size for the new small cent.

Rarity Notes

R.4. Approximately 30-50 examples exist across copper and bronze compositions.

Cross References

Judd-160; Judd-161