1831 Matron Head Coronet Head Cent - Large Letters - Matron Head Large Cent (Large Letters) N-10 Obverse Rim Cud

Description

Identified on the Newcomb N-10 die variety of the 1831 Matron Head large cent with Large Letters reverse, this obverse rim cud records a die failure. The cud — the loss of part of the obverse die's rim gutter between approximately the 1 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions — appears on struck coins as a raised interruption in the design rim that tracks the rim's course. Robert Scot's Matron Head design (also known as the Coronet Head), produced from 1816 to 1839, features a left-facing Liberty with a coronet band inscribed LIBERTY, surrounded by thirteen stars with the date below. The Newcomb N-10 die variety classification, from Howard R. Newcomb's comprehensive 1944 reference on United States large cents, identifies the specific die pairing that carried this cud — the N-10 designation anchors this variety within the established large cent die identification system that has been the standard reference for nearly a century. Philadelphia struck large cents as the sole producing mint, and the 1831 issue had a mintage of approximately 3.36 million pieces. The 1 o'clock to 2 o'clock rim position places the cud in the upper right quadrant of the obverse, likely near the area between stars or the outer portion of Liberty's hair and forehead detail. Collectors can identify this variety by the raised interruption in the design rim at the described clock position on N-10 die specimens.

Cross References

• Newcomb N-10