Whitman Expo
Demand for eye-appealing and premium quality coins pushes Heritage Auctions' July 20 event over $237,000.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Go check them out!
This coin is a very intriguing and desirable first year type issue for what is a unique and somewhat overlooked series. The original version variety of the 1840 Proof Half Cent is of the Braided Hair design on the obverse and large round berries on the reverse. The original mintage in 1840 was just 18 coins in total of which it is estimated that all have survived. Overall, this is quite a rare coin worth anywhere between five thousand to over forty thousand dollars depending on the grade.
Obverse Description
Lady Liberty is portrayed with hair tied in a bun, facing left, in what is referred to as the so-called braided hair style. The word LIBERTY appearing on her headband. 13 stars appear continuously around the periphery with the date at the bottom.
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:
582
Designer:
Christian Gobrecht
Obverse Designer:
Christian Gobrecht
Obverse Lettering:
LIBERTY, 1840
Reverse Designer:
Christian Gobrecht
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:
1840
Denomination:
1/2c
Designation:
PR
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Mintage:
15–20 known
Coinage Type:
Half Cent
Coinage Years:
1840-1857
Composition:
Copper
PCGS #:
1248
Send Catalog Feedback
To: editor@greysheet.com
Subject: I would like to contribute catalog info to CDN for 1840 1/2c Original PR BN
Body: Referring page: http://beta.greysheet.com/prices/item/1840-brown-surfaces-proof-original-united-states-half-cent/gsid/582 GSID: 582 Title: 1840 1/2c Original PR BN
Subscribe to View
View more data, info, and visualizations. Get access to retail and wholesale pricing as well as auction data.
Coin Value History
1840 1/2c Original PR BN
Value By Grade
1840 1/2c Original PR BN
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
Sort by
Pricing
Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values
| Grade | CAC | CPG Value (Retail) | Greysheet Price (Wholesale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PR66 |
|
$24,000 | $1,234 |
| PR66 | - | $20,000 | $1,234 |
| PR65 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR65 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR64 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR64 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR63 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR63 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR62 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR62 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR61 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR61 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR60 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR60 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
Braided Hair Half Cent 1/2c 1840-1857 PR BN [Type]
Worth: $2,000 – $16,800
Braided Hair Half Cent 1/2c 1840-1857 PR RB [Type]
Worth: $3,000 – $24,000
Braided Hair Half Cent 1/2c 1840-1857 PR RD [Type]
Worth: $6,800 – $60,000
1840 1/2c Original PR RB
Worth: $4,400 – $24,000
1840 1/2c Original PR RD
Worth: $7,600 – $43,200
1840 1/2c Restrike, Reverse of 1840 PR BN
Worth: $2,800 – $14,400
1840 1/2c Restrike, Reverse of 1840 PR RB
Worth: $10,000 – $24,000
1840 1/2c Restrike, Reverse of 1840 PR RD
Worth: $21,000 – $36,000
1840 1/2c Restrike, Reverse of 1856 PR BN
Worth: $3,200 – $15,000
1840 1/2c Restrike, Reverse of 1856 PR RB
Worth: $8,400 – $13,440
1840 1/2c Restrike, Reverse of 1856 PR RD
Worth: $14,000 – $26,400
1841 1/2c Original PR BN
Worth: $2,000 – $43,200
1841 1/2c Original PR RB
Worth: $6,400 – $54,000
1841 1/2c Original PR RD
Worth: $16,000 – $26,400
1841 1/2c Restrike, Reverse of 1840 PR BN
Worth: $4,200 – $11,400
1840 1/2 C Original, B-1, R.5, PR63 Brown PCGS....
$9,900
1840 Original, B-1a, C-PO1, Low R.6, PR65 Brown PCGS. Our EAC Grade PR60. CAC. ...
$22,800
1840 Braided Hair Half Cent. Original. B-1a. Rarity-6. Large Berries. Proof. Unc Details--Altered Surfaces (PCGS).
$4,080
1840 1/2 C Original PR62 Brown PCGS. B-1, R.5. ...
$7,200
$33,350
$5,980
$3,220
1836 1/2 C PR64 Red and Brown PCGS. B-1, Low R.6. A razor-...
$13,225
1840 1/2 C ORIGINAL, BN
$3,105
1840 1/2 C ORIGINAL, BN
$3,300
1840 1/2 C Original PR63+ Brown NGC. B-1, R.5. ...
$10,200
$5,520
1840 1/2 C Original PR62 Brown PCGS. B-1a, R.6. The Original 1840 and 1841 half cents can be considered reeded edge half ce...
$7,475
1840 1/2 C ORIGINAL, BN
$4,180
1840 1/2c NGC Proof 63 BN (Original)
$8,755
1840 1/2 C ORIGINAL, BN
$5,865
1840 1/2 C ORIGINAL, BN
$2,645
1840 1/2 C ORIGINAL, BN
$4,785
1840 1/2 C Original. PO-1, B-1, R.6. PR63 Brown NGC. PR60 EAC. Small date; Large berries. As an Original of the 1840 issue,...
$16,100
Greysheet News
Distinctive Morgan Dollars Lead Heritage's July Attractively Toned U.S. Coins Showcase Auction
7/27/2026
1888 Proof Double Eagle Leads Heritage's Summer FUN U.S. Coins Auction to $12.4 Million
1861-S Paquet Double Eagle, rare 1930-S Indian Eagle and early U.S. gold also rank among July 16-18 event highlights.
7/24/2026
Gold Rush Gallery Finds a Permanent Home with the Southern Gold Society
The website will be maintained as a fully functional resource to preserve its extensive historical content and the thousands of existing links that researchers and collectors rely upon.
7/21/2026
Events
Midlands Coin Club Coin, Currency and Collectibles Show - SC
Location: Medallion Center
Friday, May 1, 2026
