Braided Hair Half Cent

1855 Braided Hair Half Cent. C-1, the only known dies. Rarity-1. MS-64+ RD (PCGS).

A second high grade example of this popular type issue in the Braided Hair half cent series, this flashy near-Gem offers nearly full mint color in vivid reddish-rose. The only exception is confined to the lower left reverse, where a blush of iridescent copper-blue is noted. Sharply defined over the focal features with impressively smooth surfaces that also sport a hard satin texture. The 1855 is the most plentiful circulation strike Braided Hair half cent with full Red surfaces, making it an ideal candidate for inclusion in a high quality type set. Virtually all such examples in today's market trace their provenance to a hoard of approximately 500 Mint State coins purchased by Troy, New York numismatic dealer Charles French during the 1940s. According to Q. David Bowers in his book American Coin Treasures and Hoards, these were slowly distributed over a decade or more, but are now long since dispersed. Most of the full Red examples certified by PCGS we have seen display numerous detracting spots. The present example is of superior quality and will please even the most discerning collector.

PCGS# 1235. NGC ID: 26YZ.

Estimate: 1300