1853 Braided Hair Half Cent. C-1, the only known dies. Rarity-1. MS-65 RB (PCGS). CAC. Type: Type VI: Braided Hair.Design: Obv: Liberty faces left, a coronet inscribed LIBERTY on her head. Thirteen stars encircle the portrait with the date 1853 below. Rev: A single branch bound at the bottom by a single bowed ribbon surrounds the denomination HALF CENT. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is around the border.Weight Standard: 84 grains (5.44 grams).Diameter: 23 mm.Die Variety: Cohen-1, Breen-1, Gilbert-1. Obv: The only 1853-dated obverse in the half cent series, here in its only use. There is a tiny die rust lump at the rear of Libertys cheek. Rev: Small berries on the branch. This is the only use of this reverse.Die State: Manley 2.0, the scarcer of the two die states known to the author. Obv: The die has been repolished, the denticulation weak to incomplete from 10 oclock to 5:30. Rev: Repolished, the die line through the first letter T in STATES from Manley Die State 1.0 is no longer evident.Edge: Plain.Mintage: 129,694 coins.Estimated Surviving Population for the Issue: Since there is only a single die variety known for the 1853 half cent, the estimated surviving population for the issue is the same as that for the die variety.Estimated Surviving Population for the Die Variety: Rarity-1: More than 2,000 coins in all grades.Strike: Well struck for the later die state, most major design elements are boldly to sharply defined. There is a touch of softness to a few of the obverse stars and a couple of leaves in the branch on the reverse.Surfaces: Handsome surfaces are toned in mottled gray-brown patina. The protected areas around the design elements and at the border retain plenty of vivid mint orange color. Lustrous and smooth, as befits the Gem Mint State rating from PCGS.Commentary: The quintessential type issue among circulation strike Braided Hair half cents, there are many Mint State examples of the 1853 from which to choose. Perhaps surprisingly for such a relatively plentiful issue, the 1853 has never been represented in any sizable hoards. On the other hand, Manley does report a small group of Red and Brown Uncirculated coins that entered the market circa 1993; these were quickly dispersed, and high quality examples such as this are now encountered one at a time and at widely spaced intervals. Clearly this represents an important bidding opportunity for the discerning numismatist. From the ESM Collection.
