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← 1857 Large Date Braided Hair Large Cents • 1839–1857
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1857 Small Date

Large Cents · Braided Hair Large Cents · 1839–1857
Semi-key
Weight10.89 g
Diameter27.5 mm
MintPhiladelphia
StrikeCirculation strike
Mintage 333,456 Combined mintage for all 1857 varieties
EdgePlain
Alignment↑↓ Coin
Composition100% Copper
DesignerChristian Gobrecht
Collector's Key IDCK-297

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Varieties & References

Other recorded varieties for 1857:

External references

About this coinHistory

The 1857 Small Date large cent uses more compact numeral punches, producing shorter, narrower digits than the Large Date version. The Small Date is scarcer than the Large Date and carries a semi-key premium. Fewer dies were prepared with the small punch set, and the resulting coins represent a minority of the 1857 output.

As the scarcer variety of the final large cent date, the 1857 Small Date is pursued by both variety collectors and terminal-date specialists. The combination of last-year status and relative scarcity sustains pricing above the Large Date in equivalent grades. A collector who wants the definitive final large cent, in its rarer form, targets the Small Date.

The 1857 Small Date, alongside the Large Date, closes a chapter of American coinage that began in 1793 with Henry Voigt's crude Chain cent. Sixty-four years, six design types, millions of coins, and a denomination that served the young republic from its founding through the eve of the Civil War.

Price guideReference

Reference data only — not an appraisal.

GradeDescriptionLowHigh
G-4 Good (G) $141 $163
VG-8 Very Good (VG) $183 $210
F-12 Fine (F) $225 $260
VF-20 Very Fine (VF) $285 $330
EF-40 Extremely Fine (EF) $360 $415
AU-50 About Uncirculated (AU) $435 $500
MS-60 Uncirculated (MS) $605 $695
MS-63 Choice Uncirculated (MS) $1,595 $1,690
Frequently Asked QuestionsFAQ
How much is a 1857 Small Date Braided Hair Large Cent worth?
In Good condition it runs about $141–$163, rising to roughly $605–$695 in Uncirculated. These are reference values, not an appraisal.
How many 1857 Small Date Braided Hair Large Cents were minted?
333,456 were struck (Combined mintage for all 1857 varieties).
What is a 1857 Small Date Braided Hair Large Cent made of?
100% Copper, weighing 10.89 g.
What is the melt value of a 1857 Small Date Braided Hair Large Cent?
Its melt value is its metal content multiplied by the current spot price. See our melt calculator on the metals pages for a live figure.
Is the 1857 Small Date Braided Hair Large Cent a key date?
It's a semi-key date — scarcer than common issues but more available than the series' key dates.