1845 Braided Hair Large Cent.

rims are a bit chewed up but overall not bad for $10. Looks like it has VG-10 to F-12 sharpness. Might need to buy a book such as Grellmans to start attributing. Looks like N-5 because of the 8 and 4 touching. R-1 rarity.

It takes time to develop a discerning eye. Best to practice on low-value coins like this.

I just checked around for that book and I'm a little shocked at the price. I have never paid $100+ for a book nor will I ever. I'll have to find a used one some where but thank you for the info!

Thank you edweather I'll check it out right now.

Yea, I had no idea!
Grellmans book is also privately published therefore allowing him to put any price he desires on it.

Even used or older editions you will be hard pressed to find the Grellman book for less than $80. And for serious reference books you will normally have to pay a high price simply because print runs aren't that big. A serious numismatic book that sells more than 500 copies is unusual. Many of them have runs of less than 200 copies. And once purchased most of them tend to stay in collectors libraries, so used copies aren't that available. In the past having a book printed was quite expensive so for small print runs prices had to be high to cover the expense. As print on demand becomes more common prices for books may go down.

If you are a member of the ANA most any book you will need is available for loan for just the cost of media mail both ways. Great way to examine a book before laying out the cash to buy it, and there are some out of print books that just really aren't available for purchase very often, and very expensive when they are. The ANA library is a greatly under appreciated resource.