1798 Draped Bust Cent - 1798/7 Overdate - CU-1C-1798-04R Cud

Description

CU-1C-1798-04R is a reverse cud on a 1798 Draped Bust Cent, from the earliest years of United States Mint operations in Philadelphia. Cross-referenced under CU-1C-1798-04R and cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this cud formed when a rim section of the reverse die fractured and separated, producing a raised featureless area on struck coins. Robert Scot's Draped Bust design features Liberty with flowing hair tied by a ribbon on the obverse and a wreath surrounding the denomination on the reverse, all rendered through hand engraving that gives each die pair unique characteristics. The large copper planchets (approximately 29mm) were struck on screw presses by hand, generating less consistent striking pressure than later steam-powered and electrically driven presses. Die steel in the 1790s lacked the advanced metallurgical treatments available to later generations, making rim fractures a more frequent occurrence relative to production volume.

Cross References

• CU-1C-1798-04R

External References