1857 BRAIDED HAIR 1/2C PR66 Brown

BREEN 2. TIED FOR HIGHEST NUMERICAL GRADE. Proof 1857 Half Cents are nothing short of rare, and we believe that no more than approximately 20 pieces have survived at all levels of preservation. These coins have come down to today's collectors and investors from a presumably limited original mintage, although we do not know exactly how many specimen Half Cents were produced this year as the Mint did not keep records on proof production figures prior to 1859. Most representatives in numismatic circles were struck using the reverse die of the proof 1856 Half Cent, which is readily attributable by a doubled impression along the right upright of the letter T in CENT. A very few specimens were struck from the same die marriage as the business strike 1857 Half Cent, and they do not display this doubled impression. Survivors of both die varieties are eagerly sought by type collectors due to their status as survivors of the final proof delivery in the entire U.S. Half Cent series of 1793-1857.