1851/81 1C Braided Hair Cent CACG MS61BN

A pleasing and highly collectible overdate large cent, this 1851/81 Braided Hair Cent is certified CACG MS61BN and offers strong visual appeal for the assigned grade. Struck at Philadelphia, the obverse features Liberty facing left, her hair bound with a coronet inscribed LIBERTY, encircled by 13 stars with the date 1851 below. The reverse displays the denomination ONE CENT in two lines within a laurel wreath, surrounded by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Of special interest here is the dramatic 1851/81 overdate, one of the best-known and most avidly collected varieties of the late-date Braided Hair cent series. The coin presents warm brown color with attractive underlying olive and subtle chocolate hues, complemented by traces of original mint red in protected areas. The strike is generally sharp, with bold definition on Liberty’s hair curls, coronet, stars, and the reverse wreath. As expected for the grade, minor contact marks and small abrasions are present, yet the surfaces remain entirely respectable and notably appealing. The overall look is wholesome, original, and enhanced by the premium quality signaled by the CACG certification. Braided Hair cents of the 1840s and 1850s remain a cornerstone of 19th-century American copper collecting, prized for their classic portraiture, substantial format, and wide range of collectible dates and varieties. The 1851/81 overdate holds particular importance as a Red Book-listed variety, created when an 1851-dated die was punched over a previously dated 1851/81 undertype, producing a visible and popular blundered-date appearance. Such varieties have long drawn the attention of both large cent specialists and type collectors seeking something more distinctive than a standard date. This variety enjoys steady demand in all grades, especially in Mint State, where eye appeal and originality become critical. Certified examples are consistently sought after, and a problem-free Mint State brown representative with attractive color and solid detail is an ideal choice for the collector pursuing a meaningful large cent variety without sacrificing overall presentation. An appealing Mint State example of a classic Braided Hair cent overdate, this 1851/81 is a desirable acquisition for the advanced copper specialist and the quality-conscious type collector alike.