1852 1/2C Restrike Braided Hair Half Cent PCGS PR65BN

1852 1/2C Restrike Braided Hair Half Cent PCGS PR65BN
PCGS # 35402
Grading Service PCGS
Grade PR65
Mint Location Philadelphia
Year 1852
Designation BN
Strike Proof
Grade Add On NONE
1852 1/2C Restrike Braided Hair Half Cent PCGS PR65BN
1852 1/2C Restrike, BN
SKU: 57247155
A coveted Proof-only half cent issue, this 1852 Braided Hair Half Cent Restrike is a finely preserved PCGS-certified PR65 Brown example, an appealing representative of one of the most intriguing specialties in the late half cent series.
The obverse presents the familiar Braided Hair portrait of Liberty facing left, her hair bound in beads and a coronet inscribed LIBERTY, with 13 stars around and the date 1852 below. The reverse carries the denomination HALF CENT within a laurel wreath, encircled by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. As a Restrike issue, this piece belongs to a distinctive class of half cents produced from earlier dies for collectors, a fascinating subset that has long held special appeal among students of the series. The 1852-dated restrikes are known in two principal formats; the scarcer second restrike employs the Reverse of 1840 and is identifiable by raised die file marks near RICA in AMERICA, a hallmark of the variety noted in specialized references. ([pcgs.com](https://www.pcgs.com/auctionprices/item/1852-1-2c-restrike-rev-1840-bn/35405/6327556006950079564?utm_source=openai))
Graded PR65BN by PCGS, the coin offers the strong technical merit and eye appeal expected at the Gem Proof level. The strike is sharp throughout, with bold definition on Liberty’s portrait, stars, wreath, and lettering. The surfaces show reflective proof character beneath smooth medium-brown to olive-brown coloration, with subtle original iridescent accents and pleasing contrast at the devices. Preservation is notably strong for the designation, with only the minor handling and faint surface distractions consistent with the assigned grade. Overall, this is an attractive and well-balanced Brown Proof that presents with the refined appearance advanced collectors seek.
Within the Braided Hair half cent series, the 1852 issue occupies a special position as a Proof-only date. Although often regarded as one of the more available Proof half cents of the era, specialists have long noted that true availability is more limited than repeated auction appearances might suggest, as many offerings represent the same coins returning to market over time. Restrike half cents from this period embody an especially interesting chapter in U.S. numismatic history, reflecting the mid-19th century Mint’s practice of producing pieces for collector demand outside the original year of issue. That historical nuance, combined with the enduring popularity of the half cent denomination, gives pieces like this a strong crossover appeal among type collectors, Proof specialists, and early copper enthusiasts. ([stacksbowers.com](https://stacksbowers.com/half-cents-restrikes/?utm_source=openai))
This certified example is also desirable from a rarity standpoint. PCGS reports a population of 10 pieces in PR65 Brown with only 7 finer, underscoring its limited availability in this grade tier. PCGS’s population listing for the 1852 Restrike Brown Proof also notes the issue as only 10 to 15 known, confirming its status as a genuinely scarce collectible rather than a merely obtainable type. Brown examples account for much of the surviving population, while fully Red pieces are essentially unknown, further supporting the desirability of a wholesome, original-looking Brown Gem such as the present coin. ([pcgs.com](https://www.pcgs.com/pop/detail/1852-restrike-pr/655?utm_source=openai))
An appealing Gem Proof Restrike of a Proof-only classic, this 1852 Braided Hair Half Cent combines historical intrigue, specialized scarcity, and handsome presentation in a format that remains highly collectible across multiple segments of the U.S. coin market.