1851 Penny: History and Worth of the 1851 Braided Hair Cent

The Coronet large cent, which comes in its two major varieties, i.e., the Matron Head and the Braided Hair, might not be the most popular coin in the numismatic system. Still, these early copper cents demonstrate the traditional American coinage, which, at a certain period of time, became too expensive to be produced. This heralded the gradual switch to small cents, which were no less exquisite, though. 

The 1851 Braided Hair cent is practically approachable: it is old enough to be considered inherently rare, yet obtainable compared with earlier large cents, e.g., the 1793 penny. And even so, values may still fluctuate, depending on quality and grade. But how much is a 1851 penny worth? What do they look like when in pristine condition, and which coin checker resources to use to estimate the price and spot problems before you buy or sell?

History of the 1851 Braided Hair Cent

The 1891 cent refers to the last period of America’s large cent era, which started in 1839 and ran through 1857.  At first, it was a classic "Matron Head" design that, despite its legacy, was considered unattractive by many contemporaries and called for innovations. In 1839, Christian Gobrecht modified the appearance of the coins: he refined Liberty’s portrait into what collectors now call the Braided Hair design.

For nearly two decades, the new version remained the standard one-cent unit: it circulated all across the country and, consequently, showed severe signs of wear. Yet the same years that kept the design in use also worked against the denomination itself: rising copper costs and changing public preferences made the large cent increasingly impractical. 

This is why the United States Mint turned to a smaller version of the same denomination – the 1856 Flying Eagle cent (the first of its kind). And the 1891 penny, along with its popular 1851/81 variations, is now frequently collected as the final representative of the large cents.

“The 1851/81 Large Cent <...> is a normal date over an inverted date. When the engraver added the date to the die, he failed to notice that the date punch was inverted. Upon realizing his mistake, he oriented the punch correctly and restamped the date into the die. To efface the error, the engraver ground down the die, resulting in a weak undertype…”
— Ron Guth, respected numismatist, licensed Certified Public Accountant
PCGS CoinFacts

1851 Large Penny Design and Composition

Obverse: A portrait of Liberty, turned to the left, with her hair pulled back into a bun and a hairband, inscribed with “LIBERTY” on it, as well as 13 stars around the border (representing the original states, and the year of mintage “1851” below.

Reverse: The denomination “ONE CENT” positioned at the center, surrounded by a wreath, which is, in turn, tied with a ribbon at the bottom, along with the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” running across the rim.

1851 Penny Value Today: By Condition and Type

The value of 1851 penny usually falls in the middle-to-high range, thanks to the age of the coin and possible immaculate preservation. The key is that copper of that period is extremely sensitive to surface problems (cleaning, corrosion, porosity, damage). This is why even within the same numeric grade, a more visually striking coin would be more valuable than its less imperfect counterpart.

Here are general, “problem-free” estimates, based on major price-guide levels and the 1851 US penny value with BN designation, according to major auction houses online.

*To estimate value and catch red flags, use a reliable app like Coin ID Scanner to identify the coin and compare pricing on the spot.

Is a 1851 Penny Rare or Valuable Today?

Is it rare? 

In general, no. 

The mintage figure was quite immense. What is more, collectors understood the numismatic potential of the coin from the very beginning, which is why there are dozens, if not thousands, of these units of currency in circulated grades. In high-grade condition, though, these are much harder to find than most people expect.

Is it valuable? 

It can be, yet the price depends on the condition, rather than on its date. The higher the grade, the higher the price. 

What about the 1851/81 variety?

The 1851/81 1C is a notable, popular variety and is generally scarcer and more valuable than the normal 1851 1C. At the very top end, auction results can be dramatic.

The 1851 cent is an illustrative example of the period when pennies had weight and presence. Find it and rest assured: it is a true piece stolen from America’s numismatic scene.

Related Coin Value Guides:

• 1800 Draped Bust Large Cent Value
• 1857 Flying Eagle Cent Value
• 1858 Flying Eagle Penny Value
• 1863 Indian Head Penny Value
• 1889 Indian Head Penny Value
• 1899 Indian Head Penny Value