1798 Draped Bust Cent - Second Hair Style - Draped Bust Large Cent Retained Reverse Cud

Description

A retained cud is visible on the reverse of this 1798 Draped Bust large cent (Second Hair Style). Unlike a full cud, where the broken die piece falls away completely, a retained cud occurs when the fractured piece of the die breaks free but is held in place, creating a raised area bounded by visible crack lines that still carries its design. In this case, a rim to rim die crack runs from the "E" in "UNITED" through the far side of the fraction 1/100. A die break can be seen through the "E" as well as expansion in other areas of the retained cud.