Rarity: Very Common

Variety Equivalents: Breen 1874

Notes:
This variety really belongs in with the Braided Hair type, as this is the first appearance of the new design by Christian Gobrecht that featured a smaller head, braided hair below the coronet, and a modification of the reverse with small lettering and a more crisply detailed wreath.

Images courtesy of John D. Wright

Recent appearances:
MS60.  Ex - Superior Galleries "Pre-Long Beach Coin Sale", May 27-29, 2001, Lot 1216, illustrated,  sold for $1,092.00

MS60.  Ex - Superior Galleries "Pre-Long Beach Coin Sale", May 27-29, 2001, Lot 1217, illustrated,  sold for $1,495.00

NGC AU-58 Brown.  Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Lake Geneva Sale", June 28-29, 2001, Lot 80, not illustrated, sold for $253.00

AU-55, Burnished, Retoned.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Long Beach Signature Sale", May 31-June 2, 2001, Lot 5418, not illustrated, sold for $120.75

PCGS graded MS-64 Red and Brown and Del Bland graded MS-63.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "Benson Collection, Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, lot 524, illustrated, where it was described as follows: "Petite head, type of 1840. Newcomb-8, Rarity-1… A splendid mint red and medium chocolate brown cent that rates as one of the best survivors of this variety. Under magnification a couple tiny carbon spots become visible and between ONE and CENT is faint evidence of a fingerprint. Choice and highly desirable. Although a common variety in mint state, this is certainly one of the nicer ones to come to market. It has an excellent pedigree and the coin itself is highly desirable for the original mint color and clean surfaces. Ex: Richard B. Winsor; S. H. & H Chapman 12/1895:969 $8.; unknown; James G. Macallister, circa 1944 as "Unc. Red" at $14.", sold for $2,070.00

NGC graded MS-61 Brown, and Del Bland graded EF-40.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "Benson Collection, Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, lot 525, illustrated, where it was described as follows: "Petite head, type of 1840. Newcomb-8, Rarity-1… Five points sharper but cleaned and quite nicely retoned to a medium dark steel brown with a lighter brown undertone on the obverse. Over E in CENT is a very small nick, this being about the only defect.", sold for $287.00

Del Bland graded AU-55.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "Benson Collection, Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, lot 526, illustrated, where it was described as follows: "Petite head. Newcomb-8, Rarity-1… Sharpness of mint state but in the dentils over star thirteen are two nicks. Elsewhere on the obverse are a couple of microscopic defects and above the head are two darkish spots. Medium chocolate brown.", sold for $322.00

Del Bland graded VF-20.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "Benson Collection, Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, lot 527, not illustrated, where it was described as follows: "Petite head. Newcomb-8, Rarity-1… Sharpness of Very Fine-30 but lightly burnished and nicely retoned to medium light brown. The surfaces on both sides appear to have been burnished, probably to remove corrosion or other circulation problems. A few minor scratches are noted in the denticles on the lower reverse. The devices now have a satiny appearance from the cleaning. Color photo. Ex: Ira S. Reed 8/21/44 as "Unc." $6.50.", sold for $40.00

Sources and/or recommended reading:
"The Cent Book 1816-1839" by John D. Wright

Relevant collector organizations:
Early American Coppers Club