Price Guide for 1839 Cent Variants

This guide presents price ranges for 1839 Cent variants from three sources: eBay sales, third-party auctions, and PCGS guides. Values are shown for various conditions, allowing collectors to compare across different market segments. Price estimates may vary between sources, especially for rarer variants.

1839 Penny Silly Head, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $23.00 - $1,840.00
    Uncirculated: $207.00 - $21,275.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $13.51 - $775.00
    Uncirculated: $127.51 - $4,550.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $20.00 - $1,000.00
    Uncirculated: $1,050.00 - $35,500.00
More Detail

1839 Penny Booby Head, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $2.50 - $9,200.00
    Uncirculated: $184.00 - $10,063.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $33.00 - $750.00
    Uncirculated: $1,030.00 - $4,054.50
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $26.00 - $875.00
    Uncirculated: $950.00 - $35,000.00
More Detail

1839 Penny Booby Head, RD (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $276.00
    Uncirculated: $16,100.00 - $29,900.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $5,000.00 - $28,000.00
More Detail

1839 Penny Silly Head, RD (Regular Strike)

  • eBay
    Circulated: $89.00
    Uncirculated: $207.50 - $360.95
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $55,000.00
More Detail

1839 Penny Type of 1840, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $14.00 - $978.00
    Uncirculated: $190.00 - $13,200.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $21.00 - $579.00
    Uncirculated: $1,399.00 - $3,219.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $20.00 - $950.00
    Uncirculated: $1,100.00 - $15,500.00
More Detail

1839 Penny Type of 1840, RB (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $2,070.00 - $34,500.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $1,150.00 - $45,000.00
More Detail

1839 Penny Type of 1840, RD (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $207.00
    Uncirculated: $4,830.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-2 Head of 1838, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $216.00 - $633.00
    Uncirculated: $600.00 - $3,600.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $89.99
    Uncirculated: $1,650.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $30.00 - $500.00
    Uncirculated: $600.00 - $3,100.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-2 Head of 1838, RB (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $8,225.00 - $25,850.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $16,000.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-3 Head of 1838, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $94.00 - $763.75
    Uncirculated: $431.00 - $12,925.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $89.99 - $133.99
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $20.00 - $500.00
    Uncirculated: $600.00 - $8,750.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-3 Head of 1838, RB (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $138.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-4 Silly Head, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $120.00 - $675.63
    Uncirculated: $288.00 - $14,100.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $149.00 - $325.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $35.00 - $1,000.00
    Uncirculated: $1,050.00 - $14,500.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-4 Silly Head, RB (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $12,925.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $2,750.00 - $11,000.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-9 Silly Head, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $65.00 - $2,280.00
    Uncirculated: $2,233.00 - $35,250.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $216.00 - $275.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $25.00 - $1,000.00
    Uncirculated: $1,050.00 - $35,000.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-9 Silly Head, RB (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $7,638.00 - $10,575.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $11,000.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-5 Booby Head, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $144.00 - $881.25
    Uncirculated: $2,530.00 - $4,406.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $69.00 - $177.50
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $50.00 - $850.00
    Uncirculated: $1,850.00 - $6,750.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-5 Booby Head, RB (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $55,812.50
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $45,000.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-6 Booby Head, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $74.00 - $242.00
    Uncirculated: $705.00 - $3,720.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $37.00 - $481.76
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $40.00 - $850.00
    Uncirculated: $900.00 - $6,750.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-6 Booby Head, RB (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $63.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-7 Booby Head, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $50.00 - $1,500.00
    Uncirculated: $998.75 - $5,287.50
  • eBay
    Circulated: $199.95 - $298.27
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $40.00 - $850.00
    Uncirculated: $900.00 - $4,200.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-11 Booby Head, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $110.00 - $1,200.00
    Uncirculated: $1,260.00 - $9,400.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $43.05 - $300.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $40.00 - $850.00
    Uncirculated: $900.00 - $25,000.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-11 Booby Head, RB (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $4,080.00 - $25,850.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $23,500.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-12 Booby Head, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $84.00 - $4,993.75
    Uncirculated: $7,050.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $53.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $400.00 - $525.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-10 Booby Head, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $120.00 - $1,380.00
    Uncirculated: $1,208.00 - $3,840.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $326.11
More Detail

1839 Penny N-13 Booby Head, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $95.00 - $780.00
    Uncirculated: $384.00 - $8,812.50
  • eBay
    Circulated: $235.00 - $261.77
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $40.00 - $850.00
    Uncirculated: $900.00 - $6,750.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-13 Booby Head, RB (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $8,400.00 - $10,575.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $30,000.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-14 Booby Head, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $660.00 - $780.00
    Uncirculated: $1,920.00 - $28,200.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $249.95
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $1,300.00 - $8,500.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-14 Booby Head, RB (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $21,150.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $2,750.00 - $23,500.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-15 Booby Head, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $108.00 - $10,200.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $99.99 - $110.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $1,900.00 - $6,500.00
    Uncirculated: $15,000.00
More Detail

1839/6 Penny Newcomb 1, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $168.00 - $64,625.00
    Uncirculated: $376,000.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $525.00 - $5,500.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $325.00 - $65,000.00
    Uncirculated: $325,000.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-8 Type of 1840, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $30.00 - $1,763.00
    Uncirculated: $1,035.00 - $32,900.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $141.00 - $325.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $35.00 - $975.00
    Uncirculated: $1,150.00 - $15,750.00
More Detail

1839 Penny N-8 Type of 1840, RB (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $37,600.00 - $38,188.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $3,650.00 - $45,000.00
More Detail

1839 Penny Head of 1838, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $2.50 - $661.00
    Uncirculated: $92.00 - $8,050.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $67.66 - $795.00
    Uncirculated: $525.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $20.00 - $590.00
    Uncirculated: $625.00 - $21,500.00
More Detail

1839 Penny Head of 1838, RB (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $374.00 - $12,650.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $700.00 - $22,500.00
More Detail

1839 Penny Head of 1838, RD (Regular Strike)

  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $47.00 - $84.99
More Detail

1839 Penny Silly Head, RB (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $230.00
    Uncirculated: $575.00 - $9,400.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $2,750.00 - $15,500.00
More Detail

1839 Penny Booby Head, RB (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $102.00
    Uncirculated: $200.00 - $17,250.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $1,000.00 - $55,000.00
More Detail

1839/6 Penny, BN (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $15.75 - $52,900.00
    Uncirculated: $16,800.00 - $264,500.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $222.22 - $1,799.10
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $325.00 - $65,000.00
    Uncirculated: $275,000.00 - $375,000.00
More Detail

Design and Specifications of the 1839 Cent

The 1839 Cent marks a significant transition in American coinage. This year saw the introduction of the Braided Hair design by Christian Gobrecht, which would continue with minor modifications until 1857. The new design was part of a broader effort to improve the aesthetic quality of American coinage, reflecting the nation's growing confidence and artistic aspirations.

This coin represents the last year of the larger, heavier cent before the reduced size was introduced in 1840. The 1839 Cent thus serves as a bridge between the earlier Classic Head design and the later, more refined Braided Hair cents that would become a staple of mid-19th century American commerce.

Weight 10.89 grams
Diameter 27.5 mm
Mint Marks None (Philadelphia only)
Composition 100% Copper
Obverse Design Liberty Head (Braided Hair), designed by Christian Gobrecht
Reverse Design Wreath of laurel leaves enclosing denomination 'ONE CENT', designed by Christian Gobrecht

Rarity Factors and Value Drivers

The condition of the 1839 Cent has a significant impact on its value. Due to its age and the soft nature of copper, high-grade specimens are exceptionally rare. Coins in Mint State condition, particularly MS65 and above, command substantial premiums.

Strike quality is crucial, as many 1839 Cents suffer from weak strikes, particularly on the hair details of Liberty. Original red color is highly prized, though most surviving specimens have toned to various shades of brown. Problem-free surfaces without corrosion or significant marks are also key factors in determining value.

Philadelphia, No Mint Mark

Mintage: 3,128,661

Rarity Scale: Scarce

Circulation Status: Limited Circulation

Preservation Rarity: Rare in grades MS65 and above due to soft copper and long circulation

Varieties Errors: Booby Head variety, Head of 1840 variety

Market Demand: High, especially for well-preserved specimens and notable varieties

Several factors can further enhance the value of an 1839 Cent:

1. Varieties: The 'Booby Head' and 'Head of 1840' varieties are particularly sought after by collectors and can command significant premiums.

2. Die State: Late die state examples showing interesting die cracks or cuds can be valuable to specialists.

3. Provenance: Coins with a documented history of ownership by notable collectors can see increased value.

4. Toning: While original red color is most desirable, attractive, even toning can also enhance value.

5. Historical Significance: As a transitional year, the 1839 Cent holds special appeal for collectors of early American coinage, potentially driving up demand and value.

4/5 - (15 votes)

Helpful Resources

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Additional Resources

Coin Valuation Guide Learn to value and sell your coins Key Date U.S. Coins Chronological checklist for collectors Mint Mark Guide Comprehensive mint mark chart Coin Condition Guide Understand coin grading scales Coin Designation Guide Reference for coin terminology

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Chris Yang is the Co-Founder of Coins-Value, a leading platform for antique and modern U.S. coin valuation. With a deep passion for numismatics and extensive expertise in personal finance, Chris leverages advanced AI technology to provide accurate coin valuations and financial guidance. His commitment to helping collectors and individuals navigate the world of finance has made Coins-Value a trusted resource in the industry.

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