A Dramatic 1856 Braided Hair Cent Mint Error
By Jeff Ambio, Senior Numismatist and Chief Cataloger
At our Official Auction of the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Expo being held this November 16-19, in Baltimore, Maryland many rare and interesting items will cross the block. One of the exciting highlights we are proud to present is a dramatic 1856 Braided Hair cent mint error combining an obverse die cap and reverse brockage, Newcomb-7, Upright 5 graded MS-63 Brown by NGC.
A remarkably deep and visually dramatic die cap, this impressive piece is plated and described on page 46 of the book World's Greatest Mint Errors by Mike Byers (2009), for which I served as the sole editor during writing and publication. Of the coin the author states, in part:
“Such is the stress that the die cap created that the planchet has also split at 4 o'clock on the obverse rim. In addition to this planchet split, the reverse also displays a flattened, distended brockage from the obverse of a previously struck coin, indicating that this die cap probably produced counterbrockages before freeing itself from the obverse die. This piece is the most spectacular and dramatic Large Cent die cap known.”
Byers further describes the coin as "unique." An obverse die cap on an 1847 Braided Hair cent is ranked 29th in the 2010 book 100 Greatest U.S. Error Coins by Nicholas P. Brown, et. al., although that piece lacks the reverse brockage that also characterizes the 1856 offered here. Although no portion of the reverse design is present on this error, the N-7 die pair is confirmed through the Upright 5 in the date, a tiny hole in Liberty's ear and the presence of a faint die crack extending toward star 1 from the tip of Liberty's bust. The amount of detail in the reverse brockage suggests that it was acquired shortly before the coin freed itself from the obverse die; it probably produced only a few counterbrockage errors. Gorgeous orange-brown patina throughout, with sharp definition to the obverse design and only a few faint toning spots precluding an even higher numeric grade. An important rarity that belongs in the finest collection of U.S. Mint errors.
“Such is the stress that the die cap created that the planchet has also split at 4 o'clock on the obverse rim. In addition to this planchet split, the reverse also displays a flattened, distended brockage from the obverse of a previously struck coin, indicating that this die cap probably produced counterbrockages before freeing itself from the obverse die. This piece is the most spectacular and dramatic Large Cent die cap known.”
Byers further describes the coin as "unique." An obverse die cap on an 1847 Braided Hair cent is ranked 29th in the 2010 book 100 Greatest U.S. Error Coins by Nicholas P. Brown, et. al., although that piece lacks the reverse brockage that also characterizes the 1856 offered here. Although no portion of the reverse design is present on this error, the N-7 die pair is confirmed through the Upright 5 in the date, a tiny hole in Liberty's ear and the presence of a faint die crack extending toward star 1 from the tip of Liberty's bust. The amount of detail in the reverse brockage suggests that it was acquired shortly before the coin freed itself from the obverse die; it probably produced only a few counterbrockage errors. Gorgeous orange-brown patina throughout, with sharp definition to the obverse design and only a few faint toning spots precluding an even higher numeric grade. An important rarity that belongs in the finest collection of U.S. Mint errors.
Major Mint errors on early U.S. types are rare and seldom represented in even the most important holdings, particularly in Mint State. Indeed, most of the error large cents that this cataloger (Jeff Ambio) has handled over the years have been circulated to one degree or another. These include mostly off center strikes and brockages, the treatment of which suggests that they were not recognized as "special" at the time of production and consequently circulated for many years alongside properly struck coins of the same type. So dramatic is the present die cap, however, that it was obviously recognized as significant at the time of striking and has been handled with great care ever since -- to the benefit of the bidder who is fortunate enough to emerge victorious on this lot.
Q. David Bowers also comments on the piece “What an exciting piece this will be for anyone interested in the ‘show and tell’ aspect of numismatics—displaying this at a convention or elsewhere, where it is bound to attract a lot of attention. I would go to see it myself!”
This piece, along with the rest of the Baltimore auction will be online for your bidding pleasure in the next couple weeks. Give us a call at 800-458-4646 to ensure you receive a catalogue.
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