1840 Braided Hair Cent. N-3. Rarity-1. Small Date. MS-64 BN (NGC). Impressive and significant Choice Mint State quality for this otherwise readily obtainable die marriage from the early Braided Hair cent series. Satiny and hard, the surfaces are bathed in rich copper brown patina with tinges of navy blue in the protected areas. Minor laminations are noted on the obverse and an area of darker patina below the chin serves as a convenient pedigree marker. It is an historic piece with pedigree to the famed Rasmussen Collection. In addition, specialist Bob Grellman regarded it as tied for seventh finest of the variety when cataloging it as part of the Frankenfield Collection in 2001. Ex McIntire Numismatic Auctions sale of the Roy Rauch Collection, June 1988, lot 50; Superiors sale of the J.R. Frankenfield Collection, February 2001, lot 1215; Heritages sale of the Wes Rasmussen Collection, January 2005, lot 3737.
