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1831 1/2c Original PR BN

Greysheet & CPG® Values
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The 1831 half cent is somewhat controversial as a business strike. While mint reports of the time recorded a mintage of 2,200 coins, only a handful are known today and many experts believe that they are all proof strikes. NGC and PCGS have concluded that all coins are Proof format. However, other experts including Christopher McCawley believe that enough coins were released into circulation and now exist without distinctive proof surfaces to merit the fact that some were struck as business strikes. Regardless, the CDN considers the values to be the same for MS and PR designated coins. -- The Reverse 1840, Small Berries variety of the 1831 Proof Half Cent is known as the second restrike type struck. As compared to the Reverse 1836, Large Berries variety there are a few minor diagnostic differences on the reverse. The berries that appear on the reverse wreath are very tiny in which that specific reverse design remained in use from 1840 through 1857. These restrikes were minted a few decades later from 1858 to 1861, for sale to collectors, just before the start of the Civil War. This Half Cent Issue comes from an original mintage of just 12 coins with only a single digit quantity known to exist today, making it very rare and valuable as well as desirable to high-end collectors.

Obverse Description

Lady Liberty is portrayed with a capped bonnet, facing left, in what is referred to as the so-called classic head style. The word LIBERTY appearing on her headband. 13 stars appear left and right in a 7x6 formation.

Reverse Description

The words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the periphery surround a wreath framing the words HALF CENT. The wreath is tied by a bow at the bottom.

Catalog Information

GSID: 543
Designer: John Reich
Obverse Designer: John Reich
Obverse Lettering: LIBERTY, 1831
Reverse Designer: John Reich
Reverse Lettering: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, HALF, CENT
Weight (gr): 5.44 gr
Weight (oz): 0.1749 oz
Strike Type: Proof
Diameter: 23.5
Coin Shape: Round
Edge: Plain Edge
Variety: Original
Coin Date: 1831
Denomination: 1/2c
Designation: PR
Mint Location: Philadelphia
Mintage: 2,200
Coinage Type: Half Cent
Coinage Years: 1809-1836
Composition: Copper
PCGS #: 1186
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Coin Value History
1831 1/2c Original PR BN
Value By Grade
1831 1/2c Original PR BN
CPG (retail) values
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Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
GSID:543 PCGS:1186 Shop related

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Grade CAC CPG Value (Retail) Greysheet Price (Wholesale)
PR66 CAC $180,000 $1,234
PR66 - $150,000 $1,234
PR65 CAC $1,234 $1,234
PR65 - $1,234 $1,234
PR64 CAC $1,234 $1,234
PR64 - $1,234 $1,234
PR63 CAC $1,234 $1,234
PR63 - $1,234 $1,234
PR62 CAC $1,234 $1,234
PR62 - $1,234 $1,234
PR61 CAC $1,234 $1,234
PR61 - $1,234 $1,234
PR60 CAC $1,234 $1,234
PR60 - $1,234 $1,234
AU58 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU58 - $1,234 $1,234
AU55 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU55 - $1,234 $1,234
AU53 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU53 - $1,234 $1,234
AU50 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU50 - $1,234 $1,234
XF45 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF45 - $1,234 $1,234

Related Items

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Auction Prices

Recent public sale records for this item
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1831 Classic Head Half Cent. Original. B-1, C-1. Rarity-5+. Proof-60 BN (PCGS).
$48,000
Sold 8/16/2023
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
1831 Original, B-1, C-EO5, High R.5, PR64 Brown PCGS. CAC. Our EAC Grade PR62. ...
$90,000
Sold 8/22/2022
Heritage Auctions
1831 Original, C-1, B-1, High R.5, PR58 NGC. CAC. Our EAC grade XF45. ...
$51,600
Sold 4/23/2021
Heritage Auctions
$115,000
Sold 1/27/2014
GOLDBERG COINS
$155,250
Sold 1/27/2014
GOLDBERG COINS
1831 Classic Half Cent. Original. C-1. Rarity-6-. Proof-45 BN (NGC).
$46,288
Sold 11/15/2011
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
$71,875
Sold 9/14/2008
GOLDBERG COINS
1831 1/2 C --Impaired Proof, Improperly Cleaned--NCS. Original. B-1, C-1, High R.6. In his Half Cent Encyclopedia, Walte...
$18,400
Sold 4/29/2006
Heritage Auctions
1831 1/2 C Impaired Proof, Improperly Cleaned, NCS....
$10,350
Sold 11/6/2004
Heritage Auctions
1831 1/2 C Impaired Proof, Corroded, NCS (VF30 Corroded). ...
$13,800
Sold 8/21/2004
Heritage Auctions
$9,200
Sold 2/24/2003
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
1831 1/2 C PR60 Brown PCGS. C-1, B-1, R.6. ...
$57,281
Sold 1/12/2014
Heritage Auctions
1831 Original, C-1, B-1, High R.5, PR64 Brown NGC. CAC. Our EAC grade PR60. ...
$78,000
Sold 4/23/2021
Heritage Auctions
1831 1/2 C Original PR58 PCGS. C-1/EO-5, B-1, R.5. Die State 1. ...
$55,812
Sold 6/9/2013
Heritage Auctions
1831 1/2 C Original. PR60 Brown PCGS. ...
$69,000
Sold 7/12/2009
Heritage Auctions
1831 1/2 C Original C-1 or EO-5, B-1, R.6. Die State 1. PR58 NGC. XF45 EAC. Cataloged as C-1 if it is a business strike, or...
$80,500
Sold 1/28/2006
Heritage Auctions
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