CU-1C-1798-05R Cud

Description

Fifth reverse cud recorded for the 1798 Draped Bust Cent with the 1798/7 overdate, this die break variety belongs to one of the earliest and most historically significant series in American numismatics. The Draped Bust design, attributed to Robert Scot after a portrait by Gilbert Stuart, was in only its third year of production on the large cent when this die failure occurred. Cuds form when a section of the die rim fractures completely and the broken piece separates from the die body, leaving a cavity that fills with metal under striking pressure to create a raised featureless mass at the coin's edge. The 1798/7 overdate itself is a fascinating production artifact — the Mint economized by re-engraving an 8 over the final digit of leftover 1797-dated dies rather than creating entirely new dies. Five reverse cuds documented for this single overdate variety indicate that these recycled dies saw hard use and experienced significant structural failures during their service life. The early Mint's limited die-making capabilities meant that damaged dies often remained in service longer than ideal. Cross-referenced as CU-1C-1798-05R and cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this variety connects two distinct die production anomalies on a single coin.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Friscomint1793 on eBay
• CU-1C-1798-05R
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References