Large Cents-Braided Hair Coronet Cents (1839-57, 1868)

The Coronet large cents were redesigned in 1835 by new Chief Engraver Christian Gobrecht due to negative public reaction of the previous design. This last major change to the coin updated the obverse by giving Liberty a slimmer, more youthful appearance. Minor tweaks continued through 1843, and the 1843 design prevailed through the end of mintage in 1857.

Some 11 years after the large cent was discontinued, a mint employee coined several large cents dated 1868, almost certainly for sale as instant rarities to numismatists. Fewer than a dozen of these unofficial issues, struck in both bronze and copper-nickel, are known to survive