The Braided Hair Large Cent (1839–1857) marks the “Late Date” era of big coppers. Christian Gobrecht’s refined design offers incredible detail and luster for the type collector. This section focuses on Newcomb (N) varieties, the “Petite Head” vs. “Mature Head” distinctions, and the final 1857 minting before the switch to Small Cents.
The Braided Hair series represents the pinnacle of early US Mint technology. Designed by Christian Gobrecht, these coins feature a much sharper, more refined strike than their predecessors. This series ended in 1857 when the rising cost of copper made the “Large Cent” too expensive to produce, leading to the birth of the Small Cent.
Collector’s Note: Collectors of this series focus on Newcomb (N) Varieties. While most dates are common, finding “Red” (original mint luster) examples is the goal. The 1857 is the key date as the final year of the denomination, and it carries a significant premium in all grades.
The Braided Hair Large Cent represents the grand finale of a numismatic era. Struck from 1839 to 1857, these hefty copper pieces were the last of the “big cents” before the United States Mint transitioned to the small-diameter Flying Eagle and Indian Head pennies we are more familiar with today. For the modern collector, this…