1839-1857 Braided Hair Large Cent Good. Early U.S. cents were not exactly pint-sized — in fact, these copper coins were BIG — nearly the size and weight of a modern half dollar! The Braided Hair series represents the last of America's large cents; they were discontinued by the U.S. Mint in 1857 — their bulky size made them both unpopular in commerce and expensive to produce. Good quality. Our choice of date based on availability. Limit 1 per household.