1836 Capped Bust Half Dime Retained Cud, Split Die and Retained Cud

Description

A split die and retained cud are visible on this 1836 Capped Bust half dime. A split die occurs when a die crack extends completely across the face of the die from rim to rim, effectively splitting the die into two or more pieces. Note that there is disagreement in the community between a split die and a rim to rim die crack. Some experts use .5mm to represent to line between the two. A retained cud occurs when a piece of the die breaks away but remains in the die, creating a filled area on the struck coin. In this case, the split die die crack on the obverse runs from 12 o'clock down through Liberty and running between the “3” and “6” of the date to the rim. The retained cud on the reverse runs from the rim through “TED” of “UNITED” and to the “E. PLURIBUS UNUM” motto ribbon. The 1836 Capped Bust half dime was one of the final years of this design, with the Seated Liberty type introduced in 1837.