1856 Large Cent - 1856 1C, Slanted 5, PCGS MS64 BN CAC. Here is a near-Gem 1856 Large Cent, Slanted 5 that is original with medium brown and traces of blue coloring. The colors attest to the coins originality. The surfaces are clean with virtually no abrasion marks visible without magnification, and there are no laminations that often plague coins of this date. The strike is above average with full details on the lower stars, Libertys hair, and the leaves of the wreath. Unlike many coins of the mid-1850s, the dentils are strong and full on both sides. The marks under Libertys chin and on the center of the reverse are on the holder not the coin. The CAC sticker indicates that this premium quality piece fully merits the assigned grade.

Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the coin shows Liberty facing left in profile. She wears a LIBERTY inscribed coronet and her hair is tied in beads. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars with the date below. The reverse shows a closed wreath of laurel within which is the denomination written on two lines as ONE CENT. Around the wreath is the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Dentils are on both sides of the coin, and the edge is plain.

The Braided Hair Large Cent was first introduced in 1839. It was similar to the design Gobrecht created for the eagle of 1838. For all of the dates after 1843, Libertys head is aligned in a vertical position and large. The result is that these are not as delicate in appearance as when first issued. They were made in large quantities and circulated until the late 1850s.

Gobrecht was the third Chief Engraver at the United States Mint. He was born in Hanover, Pennsylvania in 1785. His father was a German immigrant, and his mother traced her ancestry to the early settlers of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Gobrecht married Mary Hewes in 1818. One of his early positions was as an engraver of clocks in Baltimore. Later he went to Philadelphia where he became a banknote engraver. He invented a machine that allowed one to convert a three-dimensional medal into an illustration.

This was an excellent job and Gobrecht was understandably reluctant to work for the Mint for less money than he was making at the engraving firm. In order to persuade him to leave, Mint Director Robert Patterson prevailed upon Chief Engraver William Kneass, who had had a stroke, to take less in salary so more money would be available to hire Gobrecht on a permanent basis. In 1826 Gobrecht did his first work for the Mint as an assistant to Kneass. After Kneass stroke, Gobrecht did all the die and pattern work for the Mint. He became Chief Engraver in 1840 and served until his death in 1844. He was famous for his Liberty Seated motif, which was used for all denominations of silver coinage including the half-dime, dime, quarter dollar, half dollar and silver dollar. He also designed the Liberty Head gold eagle, a motif that was also used on the half-cent, the cent, the gold quarter eagle, and the gold half eagle. 

In its population report, as of June 2013, CAC has confirmed 5 1856 Large Cents Slanted 5 at the MS64BN level.