1841 Braided Hair Cent. N-1. Rarity-5. Proof-64 RD (PCGS).This is a razor sharp, highly attractive early Proof large cent in the Braided Hair series. Satiny to semi-reflective surfaces are aglow with dominant bright pink color and subtle iridescent lilac highlights. The 1841 is among the more frequently encountered Proof large cents struck prior to 1850, although with a Rarity-5 ranking survivors of this die marriage are still scarce in an absolute sense. Proofs of this era were often struck singly or in small groups, and usually on multiple occasions throughout the year, to meet specific requests for special presentation or similar purposes. Survivors of all dates and types in the early U.S. Mint Proof series are eagerly sought by todays numismatists, although most are already in tightly held collections and seldom appear on the open market. Indeed, our offering of this lovely Proof large cent represents an important bidding opportunity for the advanced numismatist. Interested parties are urged to compete vigorously for the chance to secure this important rarity. This is the plate coin for the type in the 1986 book <em>United States Type Coins: An illustrated History of the Federal Coinage</em> by Norman Stack.Ex Norman Stack Type Collection; our (Bowers and Merenas) Rarities Sale of August 1999, lot 30; Heritages CSNS Signature Auction of April 2015, lot 4924; our Chicago ANA Sale of August 2015, lot 10031.
