What does 81 mean when price guide says 1844 81 BN large cent?

Answer 1

The mint made a date punch blunder with the die in 1844 and also in 1851. The date was punched upside down on a portion of the coins. That upside down date was then re-punched correctly. Giving it an upright 1844 date. But you can still barely see a portion of the upside down "8" between the two "4's" towards the top. So it looks like "1844" over the top of "1881". The majority of large cents of those years did not have that mint error and are referred to as "normal date". Those with the error are referred to with some form of "1844 over 81, "1844/81" or "1844 81" designation. Likewise with the "1851 over 81" large cent.

Answer 2

The number "81" in a price guide for a 1844 BN large cent typically refers to the assigned grade or condition of the coin on the Sheldon scale, which ranges from 1 to 70, with 1 being the lowest and 70 being the highest. A grade of 81 would indicate that the coin has significant wear and may have damage affecting its value.