1854 1/2C, BN MS65+ BN Certification #37113452, PCGS #1230

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

"Superb Braided Hair Type, Hammered Strike, Steely Fields, Center Brown, Peripheral Orange . The Braided Hair half cent design was employed from 1849 through the end of the denomination's issuance. Mintages dropped notably in 1854 with only 55,358 struck that year. Cohen-1 is the single die pairing. Gem examples are very scarce with MS66 Brown and Red-Brown being very rare. This superb example is only one of five at the MS65+ level for both coloring certifications. A superb type piece with original brown and orange coloration along with a very sharp strike. One of the CoinFacts plates coins and ex. DL Hansen Collection. Housed in normal PCGS Gen 6.1 (2020-2022) holder with CAC approval.", as described by the seller.

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

The 1854 Half Cent has the fourth highest mintage of the Braided Hair series. At just over 55,000 pieces, the 1854 Half Cent is nearly tied with the 1855 and is not much higher than the scarcest dates in the series (the 1857 holds that position with a mintage of 35,180). The 1854 Half Cent can be found in most grades with relative ease. Mint State examples are reasonably common, mostly in Brown and usually in MS63. Gems are scarce and only two examples have been graded MS66 by PCGS, with none finer. Red-Brown examples make up a fair percentage of the Mint State survivors and are usually seen in MS-64. Full Red 1854 Half Cents, like most dates in the series, are very scarce.

Only one die variety is known for this year.

PCGS #

1230

Designer

Christian Gobrecht

Edge

Plain

Diameter

23.00 millimeters

Weight

5.44 grams

Mintage

55358

Metal

Copper

Pop Higher

Pop Lower

932

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	2500	R-4.5	6 / 8	6 / 8
All Grades	500	R-6.0	5 / 8 TIE	5 / 8 TIE
60 or Better	40	R-8.7	6 / 8	6 / 8

Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.
65 or Better	2500
All Grades	500
60 or Better	40

Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.
65 or Better	R-4.5
All Grades	R-6.0
60 or Better	R-8.7

Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	6 / 8
All Grades	5 / 8 TIE
60 or Better	6 / 8

Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	6 / 8
All Grades	5 / 8 TIE
60 or Better	6 / 8

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS66BN PCGS grade	James R. McGuigan, sold privately on 5/10/1987 - R. Tettenhorst Collection - Missouri Cabinet (Mocab 54.2.3) - Goldbergs 1/2014:214, $12,075
1	MS66BN PCGS grade	Goldbergs 1/2016:443, $1,997.50
1	MS66BN PCGS grade	Heritage 8/2006:129, $4,025 - Stack's 11/2006:2368, $6,900
1	MS66BN estimated grade
1	MS66BN estimated grade

#1 MS66BN PCGS grade

James R. McGuigan, sold privately on 5/10/1987 - R. Tettenhorst Collection - Missouri Cabinet (Mocab 54.2.3) - Goldbergs 1/2014:214, $12,075

#1 MS66BN PCGS grade

Goldbergs 1/2016:443, $1,997.50

#1 MS66BN PCGS grade

Heritage 8/2006:129, $4,025 - Stack's 11/2006:2368, $6,900

#1 MS66BN estimated grade