The Braided Hair Cent

 The Braided Hair Cent was a type of penny, or one-cent coin, that was issued by the United States Mint from 1839 to 1857. It was the last design of the large cent series, which had been produced since the founding of the United States in 1793. The Braided Hair Cent is also sometimes referred to as the Coronet Head Cent, as it featured the image of Lady Liberty wearing a coronet or small crown.

The design of the Braided Hair Cent was created by Christian Gobrecht, who was the Chief Engraver of the United States Mint at the time. The obverse (front) of the coin depicted a right-facing image of Lady Liberty with her hair tightly braided and wearing a coronet with the inscription "LIBERTY" across the band. The date of minting appeared below Liberty's portrait.

On the reverse (back) of the coin, there was an image of a wreath consisting of olive branches tied together with a ribbon. Inside the wreath, the denomination "ONE CENT" was inscribed, with the words separated by small dots. The inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" appeared in an arc above the wreath.

The Braided Hair Cent was minted in various locations, including Philadelphia, New Orleans, and San Francisco. It was composed of 100% copper and had a diameter of 27 mm. Over the years of production, there were several minor modifications made to the design, such as changes in the size of the date or modifications to the wreath on the reverse.

During its circulation, the Braided Hair Cent faced issues with wear and tear due to its large size and heavy use. In 1857, it was ultimately replaced by the smaller Flying Eagle Cent, which was made of an alloy of copper and nickel. The Flying Eagle Cent marked a transition to a new era of smaller, more practical coinage in the United States.

Today, the Braided Hair Cent is a sought-after collectible coin. Due to its age and limited mintage, it has become a prized item for numismatists and coin collectors. The historical significance and unique design make it a fascinating piece of American numismatic history.