RRDC-1c-1840-01 Cud

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this 1840 Braided Hair Coronet Head Cent displays a major die break at the rim where a piece of the die fractured, creating a raised featureless blob at the coin's edge. Struck on the Small/Large 18 variety, this piece features a die crack seen through the face of Liberty running from rim to opposing rim. Cross-referenced as none known (dated 02/01/2014). While on the verge of being classified as a split die, the width of the die crack is too small to warrant that designation. The Braided Hair Coronet Head series, designed by Christian Gobrecht, was struck in pure copper at 10.89 grams and 27.5 mm from 1839 through 1857. Die failures on these large copper cents are particularly dramatic because the substantial planchet weight and diameter placed significant stress on the die faces during each strike, accelerating structural fatigue in areas weakened by cracks.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Redhawk on ebay
• Cross reference: none. The die crack is seen through the face of Liberty, from rim to opposing rim. While on the verge of being a split die, the width of the die crack is too small to classify it as such. 02/01/2014.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References