1856 1/2C, BN (Regular Strike)

Series: Braided Hair Half Cents 1849-1857

PCGS MS65BN

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PCGS MS64+BN

PCGS MS64BN

PCGS #:: 1236

Designer:: Christian Gobrecht

Edge:: Plain

Diameter:: 23.00 millimeters

Weight:: 5.44 grams

Mintage:: 40,430

Mint:: Philadelphia

Metal:: Copper

Auction Record:: $2,990 • PR60 • 03-11-2004 • Bowers & Merena

ShowHide Related Coins and Varieties (6)

Major Varieties

1856 1/2C, BN
1856 1/2C, RB
1856 1/2C, RD

Die Varieties

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Price Guide (USD)

PCGS Population

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Auctions - NGC Graded

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For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - PCGS Graded

For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - 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.
All Grades	1,000	R-5.0	2 / 8 TIE	2 / 8 TIE
60 or Better	250	R-6.6	2 / 8 TIE	2 / 8 TIE
65 or Better	10	R-9.5	1 / 8 TIE	1 / 8 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	1,000
60 or Better	250
65 or Better	10

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-5.0
60 or Better	R-6.6
65 or Better	R-9.5

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	2 / 8 TIE
60 or Better	2 / 8 TIE
65 or Better	1 / 8 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	2 / 8 TIE
60 or Better	2 / 8 TIE
65 or Better	1 / 8 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Image	Pedigree and History
1	MS65BN PCGS grade
1	MS65BN PCGS grade
3	MS64BN PCGS grade
3	MS64BN PCGS grade
3	MS64BN PCGS grade
3	MS64BN PCGS grade
3	MS64BN PCGS grade
3	MS64BN PCGS grade
3	MS64BN PCGS grade
3	MS64BN PCGS grade

#1 MS65BN PCGS grade

#3 MS64BN PCGS grade

Ron Guth:

The mintage of the 1856 Half Cent is slightly higher than the 1857 and nearly equal to that of the 1849 Large Date and 1850. However, of these four coins, the 1856 is the easiest to acquire by a small margin. Most examples show good striking details in the center of the coins, but the denticles are often weak. Mint State examples have been graded by the hundreds, so they are not hard to find. Most fall into the MS-62 and MS-63 grades and the populations drop off as the grade increasesa, eventually stopping at MS-66. Red-Brown examples are readily obtainable, but full Red examples are very scarce. This date offers excellent value for the collector of type coins.