1844 Braided Hair Half Cent. First Restrike. B-2. Rarity-7+. Small Berries, Reverse of 1856. Proof-64 RB (PCGS). CAC. A dazzling example of this scarce issue with satin texture on the devices and strong reflectivity in the fields. The obverse boasts warm tangerine shades while the reverse is more deeply toned in steel blue iridescence. Scattered carbon spots are noted on the obverse but go largely unnoticed to the naked eye. A truly superior piece with only 4 coins certified finer by PCGS. <p>This piece is an old friend of our firm that we first sold in 1956 and then more recently as part of the legendary Norweb Collection in 1987. The provenance can be traced even further back to the 19th century, where is was sold as part of the Winsor Collection by the Chapman brothers in 1895. Long recognized as an exceptional representative of the issue, it is surely destined for a similarly legendary cabinet or Registry Set. Ex S.H. & H. Chapmans sale of the Richard B. Winsor Collection, December 1895, lot 1051; Edouard Frossard; our sale of the B. Frank Collection, November 1956, lot 28; Richard Picker; our sale of the Norweb Family Collection, November 1987, lot 108; Jon Hanson; Donald G. Partrick.
