Maud Safford Appleton (1855-1895) Coin Album
The 1855 Half Cent has the third highest mintage of the Braided Hair series. It is a common coin in most grades, up to and including MS-64. Gem Mint State examples are scarce but not rare. Of all the dates in this series, the 1855 is the most common in full Red condition...by far. PCGS has certified over two hundred Red examples, mostly in MS-64. Thus, for type collectors, this is a go-to date for exceptional color and quality. Both of the 5's in the date are slanted, which was typical of the 1850-1855 Half Cents. In 1856 a new font with an upright 5 was used. Only one die variety (Cohen 1) is known for this year.
1855 Large Cents come with two different date styles -- one has slanted 5's and the other has upright 5's. In all of the years preceding 1855, the 5's had some degree of slant, though perhaps not to the degree as seen on the 1855's. Both Slanted and Upright 5's are found on 1856 Large Cents, then the issue is settled with the 1857, which has Upright 5's only. The end of the Large Cent denomination after 1857 sealed their fate. According to the PCGS Population Report (as of March 2012), the Upright 5s variety is the more common of the two, though hundreds have been certified of each. No 1855 Large Cent (of either type) has earned a grade better than MS-66, and that includes all color variations. Amazingly, a handful of Full Reg Gem examples have survived to satisfy and excite collectors.
After the frenetic pace of production of Quarter Dollars in the previous two years, things settled down at the Philadelphia Mint in 1855. Mint employees produced nearly three million Quarters -- still a healthy amount, but more than a four-fold reduction from the previous year. Most 1855 Quarters are well-struck, though some show occasional weakness on one or more of the obverse stars. High-grade examples are semi-scarce. Mint State examples cluster around the MS63 and MS64 grades but go as high as MS66 at POCGS. "Finest Known" honors could go to any one of the three PCGS MS66s, or the NGC MS67+* example from the Eric P. Newman collection that sold recently for a record $41,125.
This variety is an overdate that shows traces of an 854 beneath the final 1855 date. The arrows at each side of the date were placed there to signify a reduction of the weight of the coins in 1853. The arrows served as a quick identifier so that the old, higher weight coins could be removed from circulation quickly. The overdate is roughly two to three times as rare as the "normal" date. Numerous circulated examples exist, but Mint State examples are scarce. PCGS has certified nine Mint State examples (as of May 2011), the finest of which is a single MS-66. The PCGS Condition Census includes grades from MS-62 to MS-66.
The 1855-O Half Dollar boasts the second largest mintage of the 1853-1855 With Arrows type. As a result, it is plentiful in virtually any grade, including most of the Mint State levels. Scores are available in a range of grades from MS62 to MS64. Even Gems can be obtained easily. For the connoisseurs of extreme quality, it is possible to obtain examples of this date in MS67. In any grade, the key is to find an example that featrures a bold strike, as some show weakness on several or many of the stars.