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About This Series

The Greysheet Catalog (GSID) of the Braided Hair Half Cents (1840–1857) series of Half Cents in the U.S. Coins contains 51 distinct entries with CPG® values between $70.00 and $86,500.00.
Half cents were struck by the United States Mint from 1793 through 1857 and were the nation's smallest circulating denomination. They were made from a pure copper composition from 1793 through 1837 and a bronze composition (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) from 1837 through 1857, when the coin became impractical and effectively unnecessary due to economic inflation.

All half cents were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, so none carry any mintmarks. There was also several design changes made to the half cent during the six decades of the denomination's run.

These designs include the following types:

  • Liberty Cap half cent (1793-1797)
  • Draped Bust half cent (1800-1808)
  • Classic Head half cent (1809-1836)
  • Braided Hair half cent (1840-1857)


Numismatists generally regard all half cents as scarce, though many of the earliest dates are especially challenging, as are choice, original red specimens in uncirculated condition regardless of the date. Meanwhile, dealers and collectors who deal in circulated pieces usually prefer evenly struck pieces with chocolate-brown patina. Unfortunately, many half cents are encountered with holes, heavy scratches, and porous or cleaned surfaces. As is the case with all older copper coinage, problem-free half cents are challenging to come by and often sell quickly when offered for sale.

Important Note Regarding Early Copper Pricing: Early American copper issues (colonials, half cents and large cents) are an especially challenging area to determine and fix accurate market values. The issues listed in CDN publications represent the wholesale prices of coins that are problem free and strictly graded, especially as they compare to other examples of the same issue. Any number of factors can influence (decrease or increase) the value of early large cents, including mint-made problems (planchet flaws, poor strikes, etc.) and post-mint problems (corrosion, improper cleaning, environmental damage, and more). The prices listed here are intended to serve as a guideline and starting point for discussion and negotiations of valuation, but the CDN editors strongly encourage buyers to seek expert advice in this field before purchasing coins of high value.

Catalog Detail

  Braided Hair Half Cents (1840–1857) Value Range Favorite
Braided Hair Half Cents (1840–1857) Value Range  
Braided Hair Half Cent 1/2c 1849-1857 MS BN Type Coin
$70.00
-
$7,500
$70.00 - $7,500
Braided Hair Half Cent 1/2c 1849-1857 MS RB Type Coin
$310
-
$10,500
$310 - $10,500
Braided Hair Half Cent 1/2c 1849-1857 MS RD Type Coin
$775
-
$18,500
$775 - $18,500
1849 1/2c MS BN
$70.00
-
$7,500
$70.00 - $7,500
1849 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$70.00
-
$7,500
$70.00 - $7,500
1849 1/2c MS RB
$900
-
$6,750
$900 - $6,750
1849 1/2c C-1 MS RB
-
 
1849 1/2c MS RD
$3,750
-
$4,500
$3,750 - $4,500
1849 1/2c C-1 MS RD
-
 
1850 1/2c MS BN
$75.00
-
$11,500
$75.00 - $11,500
1850 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$75.00
-
$11,500
$75.00 - $11,500
1850 1/2c MS RB
$3,250
-
$9,000
$3,250 - $9,000
1850 1/2c C-1 MS RB
-
 

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1850 1/2c MS RD
$45,500
-
$86,500
$45,500 - $86,500
1850 1/2c C-1 MS RD
-
 
1851 1/2c MS BN
$70.00
-
$1,450
$70.00 - $1,450
1851 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$70.00
-
$1,450
$70.00 - $1,450
1851 1/2c MS RB
$525
-
$2,700
$525 - $2,700
1851 1/2c C-1 MS RB
-
 
1851 1/2c MS RD
$1,000
-
$29,000
$1,000 - $29,000
1851 1/2c C-1 MS RD
-
 
1853 1/2c MS BN
$70.00
-
$7,500
$70.00 - $7,500
1853 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$70.00
-
$7,500
$70.00 - $7,500
1853 1/2c MS RB
$575
-
$1,950
$575 - $1,950
1853 1/2c C-1 MS RB
-
 
1853 1/2c MS RD
$775
-
$5,500
$775 - $5,500
1853 1/2c C-1 MS RD
-
 
1854 1/2c MS BN
$70.00
-
$7,500
$70.00 - $7,500
1854 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$70.00
-
$7,500
$70.00 - $7,500
1854 1/2c MS RB
$310
-
$10,500
$310 - $10,500
1854 1/2c C-1 MS RB
-
 
1854 1/2c MS RD
$775
-
$5,500
$775 - $5,500
1854 1/2c C-1 MS RD
-
 
1855 1/2c MS BN
$70.00
-
$7,500
$70.00 - $7,500
1855 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$70.00
-
$7,500
$70.00 - $7,500
1855 1/2c MS RB
$310
-
$6,750
$310 - $6,750
1855 1/2c C-1 MS RB
-
 
1855 1/2c MS RD
$775
-
$24,000
$775 - $24,000
1855 1/2c C-1 MS RD
-
 
1856 1/2c MS BN
$70.00
-
$1,500
$70.00 - $1,500
1856 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$70.00
-
$1,500
$70.00 - $1,500
1856 1/2c MS RB
$310
-
$3,000
$310 - $3,000
1856 1/2c C-1 MS RB
-
 

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1856 1/2c MS RD
$3,750
-
$14,500
$3,750 - $14,500
1856 1/2c C-1 MS RD
-
 
1857 1/2c MS BN
$70.00
-
$1,950
$70.00 - $1,950
1857 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$70.00
-
$1,950
$70.00 - $1,950
1857 1/2c MS RB
$650
-
$3,900
$650 - $3,900
1857 1/2c C-1 MS RB
-
 
1857 1/2c MS RD
$3,000
-
$21,500
$3,000 - $21,500
1857 1/2c C-1 MS RD
-
 
       

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Greysheet Catalog Details

The Greysheet Catalog (GSID) of the Braided Hair Half Cents (1840–1857) series of Half Cents in the U.S. Coins contains 51 distinct entries with CPG® values between $70.00 and $86,500.00.
Half cents were struck by the United States Mint from 1793 through 1857 and were the nation's smallest circulating denomination. They were made from a pure copper composition from 1793 through 1837 and a bronze composition (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) from 1837 through 1857, when the coin became impractical and effectively unnecessary due to economic inflation.

All half cents were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, so none carry any mintmarks. There was also several design changes made to the half cent during the six decades of the denomination's run.

These designs include the following types:

  • Liberty Cap half cent (1793-1797)
  • Draped Bust half cent (1800-1808)
  • Classic Head half cent (1809-1836)
  • Braided Hair half cent (1840-1857)


Numismatists generally regard all half cents as scarce, though many of the earliest dates are especially challenging, as are choice, original red specimens in uncirculated condition regardless of the date. Meanwhile, dealers and collectors who deal in circulated pieces usually prefer evenly struck pieces with chocolate-brown patina. Unfortunately, many half cents are encountered with holes, heavy scratches, and porous or cleaned surfaces. As is the case with all older copper coinage, problem-free half cents are challenging to come by and often sell quickly when offered for sale.

Important Note Regarding Early Copper Pricing: Early American copper issues (colonials, half cents and large cents) are an especially challenging area to determine and fix accurate market values. The issues listed in CDN publications represent the wholesale prices of coins that are problem free and strictly graded, especially as they compare to other examples of the same issue. Any number of factors can influence (decrease or increase) the value of early large cents, including mint-made problems (planchet flaws, poor strikes, etc.) and post-mint problems (corrosion, improper cleaning, environmental damage, and more). The prices listed here are intended to serve as a guideline and starting point for discussion and negotiations of valuation, but the CDN editors strongly encourage buyers to seek expert advice in this field before purchasing coins of high value.

Catalog Detail