CU-1C-1803-01R Cud

Description

First of three documented reverse cuds on the 1803 Draped Bust Cent with Small Date and Large Fraction die variety, CU-1C-1803-01R records a retained die break on a large copper cent struck more than two centuries ago. The Draped Bust design, created by Robert Scot after a portrait attributed to Gilbert Stuart, was produced from 1796 through 1807 on planchets approximately 28 millimeters in diameter — substantially larger than modern cents. At this early stage of the Mint's operations, dies were manufactured from relatively soft steel prone to cracking under the repeated stress of striking large copper planchets. The 01R designation identifies this as the first reverse cud cataloged for the 1803 Small Date, Large Fraction variety — a specific die marriage distinguished by the size of the date numerals and the fraction on the reverse. Cuds on early American copper cents are studied with particular care because each represents a specific moment in a die's working life, and the small number of dies employed in early Mint operations makes individual die histories traceable through their progressive deterioration from fresh state through terminal failure.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Fred Weinberg
• CU-1C-1803-01R
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References