1847 Large Cent

The Braided Hair cent is huge compared to other coins of that era and coins now. They are 27.5mm across and weigh 10.9g. For comparison, the 2.50 dollar coin from 1850 is 18mm across and weighs 4.2g and the modern penny is 19mm across.

The Braided hair cent is a variation of its predecessor, the Matron Head cent. The reverse stayed mostly the same, but the obverse changed from the Matron Head to Lady Liberty from the painting Omnia Vincit Amor by Benjamin West. The change was made because the Matron Head cent looked like an “obese ward boss” and the coins could be more uniform with the new steam power press. Despite the improved coin, the public didn't like it because it was too big and soon inflation made the copper in it more valuable than the coin itself so smelters melted them by the thousands. The coin was replaced by the Flying Eagle cent in 1856.

My coin is from 1847 and is in fine condition. I slightly overpaid for the coin but I am glad to have a coin with such a interesting history.


Information citation https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-explorer/braided-hair-cents-1839-1857-pscid-120