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Message:: [QUOTE="900fine, post: 760899, member: 6036"]There's one other factor about these which intrigues me, and that's the period 1835-1839. The 1830s were heady days for the US Mint. <ul> <li>1833: they moved to a new building. Everybody loves new digs !</li> <li>1835-1836: they embraced two major technologies - closed collar and steam presses</li> <li>1836-1839: sweeping design changes across all denominations, with the advent of Braided Hair copper, Seated Liberty silver, and new Liberty gold</li> </ul>In those days, these Matron Heads show us something totally unique. In almost all cases throughout the entire history of US coinage, a design change is very discrete - a clean break with the past. The new design is starkly different from the old design. For instance, Flowing Hair gives way to Draped Bust, Indian Head cent is followed by Lincoln Cent. But that's not true in the Matron -> Braided Hair transition. Here, and here alone, we see a gradual evolution from one to the other during the years 1835-1839. Here are the key points : 1835: Year starts as normal with the standard Matron look. During the year, the mint introduces a modified look - the so-called "Head of 1836". Thus, some of the cents of this year have one look, the others a different, but similar, look.1836: No major changes1837: During the year, the mint introduces Beaded Hair Cords. Again, some of the cents of this year have one look, the others a different, but similar, look.1838: No major changes1839: Several different designs, including the previous look (referred to as "Head of 1838"), a "Silly Head", a "Booby Head", and finally the "almost fully evolved" Braided Hair - the so-called "petite head". Nowhere else in the entire epic story of US Coinage do we see anything like this. I'm collecting a set illustrating these changes. All I lack is a good Silly Head and two 1837s showing plain and beaded hair cords. I hope to complete this at FUN. When I do, I'll post up a little photo essay here.[/QUOTE]

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