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1840 Large Date
| Weight | 10.89 g |
| Diameter | 27.5 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 2,462,700 Combined mintage for all 1840 varieties |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 100% Copper |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | Christian Gobrecht |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-245 |
Collection
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Other recorded varieties for 1840:
- 1840 Small Date · Small Date
- 1840 Small/Large 18 · Small/Large 18
External references
The 1840 Large Date large cent is the first full-year issue of the Braided Hair design. Christian Gobrecht's portrait shows Liberty facing left with her hair woven into a tight braid gathered at the back, wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY. The design is more refined than the Coronet Head it replaced, with sharper lines and a more controlled artistic sensibility.
The Large Date uses the taller numeral punches for the date digits. The distinction from the Small Date is in the height and width of the numerals, determined by which punch set the engraver selected. The Large Date accounts for a portion of the year's output and is one of two standard varieties for the date.
The 1840 is available in circulated grades. As the first year of a new design type, it draws some collector interest beyond its mintage alone. Good to Fine is the standard grade range, with higher grades available for a premium.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | $19.50 | $23 |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | $28 | $32 |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | $36 | $42 |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $57 | $65 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $121 | $140 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $225 | $260 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | $470 | $540 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | $1,180 | $1,250 |
How much is a 1840 Large Date Braided Hair Large Cent worth?
How many 1840 Large Date Braided Hair Large Cents were minted?
What is a 1840 Large Date Braided Hair Large Cent made of?
What is the melt value of a 1840 Large Date Braided Hair Large Cent?
Is the 1840 Large Date Braided Hair Large Cent a key date?
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