1842 Braided Hair Half Cent, Proof-65 Red (PCGS)
Cohen PO-3, Breen 1: Rare Original Striking, Large Berries Reverse

Cohen PO-3, Breen 1 - Large berries reverse. Original Striking. (Rarity 6+, estimated 12 known). Early reverse die state still showing a series of faint dots in the field above the M in AMERICA, and a faint die scratch from the first S in STATES, through the small berry, to the left upright of H in HALF just below the top left serif. These reverse markers were polished away before the "Large Berries" die was reused for the Series VII restrikes.

Consider first that there are only twelve or so 1842 Original Proof Half Cents known, and that this issue has long been highly prized as one of the rarest date Original Proof Half Cents. Add that two of the twelve are impounded in museums, the ANS and Smithsonian collections, and that at least three others are circulated. Only then can we begin to grasp the importance of this coin in such an exceptional condition.

The surfaces are bright, fiery red in color with just a hint of iridescence in the obverse field. There are a few shallow spots, none of which are significant, the most notable of which are in the obverse field midway between star 2 and Liberty's chin, off the tip of Liberty's nose, on the reverse below the left foot of H, and on the leaf directly below the T in CENT. The mirrors are strong but not deep, typical of proof copper coins of this era, yet there is strong cameo contrast on the obverse with the central device, date, stars, and broad rim all frosted.

This is the only 1842 Original Half Cent certified as "red" by PCGS, followed by a single PR66BN, and is a strong candidate for Finest Known in competition with the Cass-Norweb specimen noted below.

Roster: The following is a roster of 1842 Original Half Cents known to ONR, none of which are the specimen above.

• Cass-Norweb - Charles A. Cass ("Empire Collection", Stack's 11/1957: 107); Norweb (B&M 10/1987: 100 @ $13,200 as "Proof-64 to 65, with fiery mint red surfaces")
• Eliasberg - John G. Mills (S.H. and Henry Chapman 4/1904); J.M. and John H. Clapp (Morton and J.B. Stack privately, 1942); Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. (B&M 5/1996: 456 @ $6,820 as "Proof-63, red and brown")
• Pittman, PR64BN (PCGS) - Anderson DuPont (Stack's 11/1954: 1133 @ $120); John Jay Pittman (Akers 10/1997: 150 @ $6,600 as "Choice Proof")
• Lee, PR55 (PCGS) - Harrie B. Price (J.C. Morgenthau & Co. 9/1935: 867); Milton A. Holmes (Stack's 10/1960: 1336); Philip E. Benedetti (Pickwick Stamp & Coin); Loye L. Lauder (William Doyle Galleries 12/1983: 296); Dr. Wallace Lee (Superior 5/2003: 326 @ $3,220 as PCGS PR55)
• Norweb duplicate - Thomas L. Elder to Albert Holden (October 1908); Norweb (B&M 10/1987: 101 @ $1,650 as "VF-20")
• Hinman "The Century Sale" - From the Paramount plate, VF30/XF40 sharpness yet with multiple problems that Breen describes as "nicked, dented, scratched and banged up". ("Metropolitan Numismatic Convention Sale", Stack's 5/1956: 1517 @ $48); A. Buol Hinman ("The Century Sale", Paramount 4/1965: 108 @ $600 as "Fine")


• ANS - American Numismatic Society Museum. [per Breen]
• Smithsonian - Mint Cabinet, Smithsonian Institution. [per Breen]