1855 Braided Hair Cent. N-10. Rarity-5 as a Proof. Slanting 5s. Proof-63 RB (NGC).

This is a beautiful coin with appreciably reflective fields and modestly satiny design elements. The strike is sharp apart from a touch of softness to several of the stars around the obverse periphery. The obverse retains nearly full mint orange color with only slight mellowing to pale silver and iridescent brown. The reverse also show much mint color, although it is more boldly toned with a swath of steel-olive at the left border and speckles of similar color elsewhere. Scattered carbon flecks preclude a higher grade, including two in the field before the bridge of Liberty's nose that serve as particularly useful provenance markers. Of the 13 die marriages confirmed for the 1855 Braided Hair cent, only two come in Proof format: N-10 and N-11. The former die marriage produced both Proofs and circulation strikes, unlike the Proof-only Newcomb-11. Bob Grellman noted in his opus on late date large cents that the Proofs of the N-10 variety appear to have been struck after a round of normal circulation pieces were produced. He further mentions that it is "extremely difficult" to discern between Proofs and the prooflike circulation strikes which followed, but this piece leaves no questions as to its Proof status. It is a very nice high quality specimen, worthy of placement in a fine copper collection or an advanced collection of Proof coinage. With more than 100 coins believed extant (per PCGS CoinFacts ), the cent is the most frequently encountered Proof coin from 1855. Then, as now, these large copper coins enjoyed particularly strong demand. In 1855, while some cents were sold as part of Proof sets, many were distributed individually to contemporary collectors and others seeking only a single Proof coin of the date.

PCGS# 1995. NGC ID: 2273.

NGC Census: 1; 2 finer in this category (both Proof-65 RB).

Offered as part of a nicely matched 1855 Proof Set of Silver and Minor Coinage.