1840-1857 Braided Hair Liberty Head Large Cent

It’s hard to imagine, but when large copper cents were first struck, the U.S. had been minting coins for only 24 years. Now over a century and a half later, these half-dollar-size coins are revered by collectors.

When production of large cents resumed in 1816, after a one-year hiatus, the Coronet design was born. The obverse features the head of Liberty wearing a coronet, and 13 stars representing the original colonies. The reverse has a wreath surrounding the words one cent.