1855 BRAIDED HAIR 1/2C PCGS MS 66 RD

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1855 BRAIDED HAIR 1/2C PCGS MS 66 RD
Grading Service: PCGS
Cert Number: 45560594
SKU: 141426
Coin History
Although the Mint adopted Christian Gobrecht's Braided Hair design for proof Half Cent production in 1840, the first business strikes of this type were not forthcoming until 1849.  The reason no Half Cents were prepared for circulation from 1836 through 1848 is because the Mint's vaults were overflowing with undistributed examples of the Classic type.  Apparently, the supply had finally become exhausted by 1849, in which year the Philadelphia Mint once again starting striking Half Cents for circulation.  Even then, however, yearly mintages remained limited, and the 1852 was struck solely in proof format because, once again, supply exceeded commercial demand.
By 1857, the cost of producing copper coins had risen to such a level that the Mint was losing money with every Half Cent and large Cent it struck.  Since these coins had also become highly unpopular and rarely circulated outside of the larger Eastern cities, the Mint Act of February 21, 1857 abolished both denominations.  The large Cent was replaced by the small Cent, but the Half Cent permanently disappeared from the United States' coinage family.
Of the eight business strike deliveries in the Braided Hair Half Cent series, the final-year 1857 is by far the scarcest.  Many of the 35,180 pieces struck are believed to have been destroyed in the Mint after passage of the aforementioned Mint Act.
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