1844 Braided Hair Half Cent. Second Restrike. B-3. Rarity-6. Small Berries, Reverse of 1840. Proof-66 BN (NGC). Here is an exciting coin for the specialist, the first specimen that Walter Breen (1983) lists as a Series IV, early die state of the Proof 1844 B-3 half cent. A lovely upper end Gem, both sides have semi-reflective fields and vivid salmon-pink and cobalt blue undertones. Additionally we note warm, original color to both sides that blends deep autumn-brown and olive-copper. The strike is full and includes broad, squared off rims. Smooth and appealing, as befits the assigned grade, we mention an extremely faint carbon spot in the reverse field above the letter C in CENT for provenance purposes.<p>The Proof-only Braided Hair half cents from 1840 to 1848 inclusive, plus 1849 Small Date and 1852, are all very rare. Prices, however, are extremely modest in comparison to what coins of related availability sell for in the American series. This is probably because there are so many different varieties -- especially three varieties of each of the dates in the 1840s -- that the challenge is very daunting. The present example is readily attributable as Breen-3 due to the die file marks along the reverse border outside the letters RICA in AMERICA. For both restrike varieties of the 1844 combined, B-2 and B-3, <em>PCGS CoinFacts</em> estimates that only 15 to 20 specimens are extant, and this is one of the very finest certified. From W. Elliott Woodwards sale of the William J. Jenks Collection, September 1880, lot 197; T. Harrison Garrett to Robert and John Work Garrett, by descent, 1888; Robert Garrett interest to John Work Garrett, 1919; transfer completed 1921; John Work Garrett to the Johns Hopkins University, by gift, 1942; our (Stacks) sale of the Garrett Collection for The Johns Hopkins University, March 1976, 1976, lot 12; our (Stacks) sale of the Robison Collection, February 1982, lot 376; Donald G. Partrick; Heritages sale of the Donald G. Partrick Collection, April 2021 CSNS Signature Auction, lot 3749.
