CU-1C-1803-07R Cud

Description

Seventh documented reverse cud on the 1803 Draped Bust Cent, CU-1C-1803-07R preserves evidence of die rim failure on the wreath side of this early copper large cent. The "R" suffix confirms this break occurred on the reverse die, distinguishing it from obverse cuds in the 1803 sequence and allowing researchers to track which side of the die pair was more susceptible to fracture. The reverse of the 1803 cent displays the fraction 1/100 within an open wreath, a design featuring thin raised elements that concentrate striking pressure along narrow contact lines. Philadelphia's early nineteenth-century die shop produced dies from locally sourced steel that varied in quality and hardness, and the 1803 cent dies endured the full force of the screw press against large 29mm copper planchets weighing approximately 10.89 grams. Cuds on Coins cataloged this variety under cross-reference CU-1C-1803-07R as part of the Small Date, Large Fraction die marriage. The concentration of multiple cud varieties on a single date — at least seven documented reverse breaks for 1803 alone — provides statistical evidence that certain die steel batches or die preparation methods produced dies more prone to peripheral fracturing, making 1803 a particularly rich date for cud collectors within the Draped Bust series.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Friscomint1793 on eBay
• CU-1C-1803-07R
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References