1852 Braided Hair Cent


The 1852 Braided Hair Cent

This Large Cent coin is the 1852 Braided Hair Cent and was designed by Christian Gobrecht, the third Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. Braided Hair Cents (also known as Late Dates Cents) were minted 1839 to 1857.

Cents were the first coins to be made for circulation in the USA and Large cents were minted from 1793 until 1857 (except for 1815 due to a copper shortage). Diameter was around 26-27mm.

All the early dies were hand made leading to a large number of varieties (mainly based around head and font variation) and this makes for some excellent collecting opportunities. Proofs were made but they are all rare and expensive. By 1857 the price of copper was making these coins costly to manufacture. The half-cent was dropped and the Flying Eagle Cent introduced the small cent to America, ending the reign of the large cent.

The Obverse shows an image of Liberty, with 13 stars around (the number of States at the time) and date below.

The Reverse shows a wreath with berries enclosing the denomination "ONE CENT". Around is the legend "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA".

Image credit: Mountain View Coins


Mintage: 5,000,000 (may include coins in sets)
Minted at US Mint - Philadelphia.
Remember 1852 ?
In the UK: Monarch is Queen Victoria. Prime Minister is Lord John Russell (Whig), then on 23 February is Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby (Conservative), then on 19 December is George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen (Coalition). Great Ormond Street Hospital in London opens as The Hospital for Sick Children. Charles Dickens' novel Bleak House is serialised.
In the USA: President is Millard Fillmore (W-New York). The California Gold Rush continues (1848–1855).
Category: USA Cents
Cents and half-cents were the first coins struck by the United States of America. The first coins were minted in 1793. By law, the half-cent must be exactly half the weight of one cent. Americans often refer to them as pennies.

The general classification of cents is as follows:

Large cents:

  • Flowing Hair Chain 1793
  • Flowing Hair Wreath 1793
  • Liberty Cap 1793–1796
  • Draped bust 1796–1807
  • Classic Head 1808–1814
  • Liberty Head 1816-1857
    • Coronet 1816–1839
      • Matron Head 1816-1835
      • Matron Head Modified ("Young Head") 1835-1839
    • Braided Hair 1839–1857, 1868
Small cents:

  • Flying Eagle cent (1856–1858)
  • Indian Head cent (1859–1909)
  • Lincoln cent (1909–present)
    • Lincoln Wheat (1909–1958)
    • Lincoln Memorial (1959–2008)
    • Lincoln Bicentennial 4 reverse designs (2009)
    • Lincoln Union Shield[13] (2010–present)
100 cents = 1 Dollar.
Which Mint: US Mint - Philadelphia
The United States Mint, Philadelphia was founded in 1792. It has a mint mark of 'P' although the early coins minted there do not carry a mint mark. The 'P' was added to most coins after 1980.
Country of Origin: United States of America
The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a constitutional federal republic composed of 50 states. It's currency is the Dollar (USD $1) and that is equivalent to 100 cents.

The United States mints many famous coins in gold, silver and lesser metals. The USA has several Mints, such as Philadelphia, San Francisco, West Point (NY) and Denver.
If you don't see a coin in the list below try the USA Cents page on eBay UK
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1852 Braided Hair Large Cent #89
1852 Braided Hair Large Cent #89
£ 41.46
1852 Braided Hair Large Cent Almost Uncirculated AU Coin #6463
1852 Braided Hair Large Cent Almost Uncirculated AU Coin #6463
£ 106.06
1852 Braided Hair Large Cent VF Penny
1852 Braided Hair Large Cent VF Penny
£ 48.16
1852 Braided Hair Liberty Head Large Cents : Cent Superb Grade
1852 Braided Hair Liberty Head Large Cents : Cent Superb Grade
£ 45.00
1852 US Braided Hair Large Cent Coin. #6
1852 US Braided Hair Large Cent Coin. #6
£ 20.32
1852 US Braided Hair Large Cent Coin. #7
1852 US Braided Hair Large Cent Coin. #7
£ 29.24
1852 Braided Hair Large Cent Coin, Just Barely AU Almost Uncirculated #161
1852 Braided Hair Large Cent Coin, Just Barely AU Almost Uncirculated #161
£ 91.60
1852 Braided Hair Large Cent Extremely Fine XF Coin #5928
1852 Braided Hair Large Cent Extremely Fine XF Coin #5928
£ 47.25

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