1800 Draped Bust Large Cent S-202 Retained Obverse Cud

Description

Cross-referenced as Sheldon S-202 in the definitive Early American Cents classification system, this 1800 Draped Bust Large Cent displays a retained cud on the obverse — a die break where a fractured piece of the die remained partially attached rather than separating completely, creating a raised area with visible crack lines while retaining some underlying design detail. The retained cud extends from the left rim into the portrait of Liberty, a prominent location that makes this variety visually striking even without magnification. Additional die deterioration includes a die crack running to the numeral 1 in the date 1800 and die chips scattered throughout the date area, documenting progressive structural failure across the obverse die face. The Draped Bust Large Cent, designed by Robert Scot after a portrait attributed to Gilbert Stuart, was struck in pure copper at the Philadelphia Mint — the only operating mint facility during the Early Republic period. Each large cent weighs approximately 10.89 grams with a diameter of 29 mm, making it one of the largest circulating copper coins in American history. The 1800 date falls within the Draped Bust series that ran from 1796 to 1807, a period when die production was entirely manual and each working die was individually hand-engraved or hubbed, making every die marriage unique. Sheldon variety numbers for early large cents serve as the primary identification system used by specialists, with S-202 designating this specific obverse-reverse die combination. The retained nature of this cud — as opposed to a full cud where the die fragment falls away completely — provides insight into the die's metallurgical properties and the forces involved in its progressive failure.

Attribution History

• Discovered by NumisDexDealer
• Sheldon S-202