PC-1c-1861-02R Pre-Cud

Description

Second reverse pre-cud cataloged for the 1861 Indian Head cent by the Cuds on Coins attribution service, PC-1c-1861-02R documents die rim deterioration on a Civil War-era cent that was struck during the first year of the conflict. The cross-reference notation records a documentation date of 02/12/2019. James B. Longacre's Indian Head cent design was in its third year of production in 1861, featuring Liberty wearing a Native American headdress on the obverse and an oak wreath surrounding ONE CENT on the reverse. Philadelphia struck approximately 10.10 million Indian Head cents in 1861, a production run that would prove to be one of the last before the wartime hoarding crisis drastically reduced cent circulation and prompted the introduction of fractional currency. The copper-nickel composition used for cents in 1861 (88% copper, 12% nickel) was harder than the pure copper previously used for large cents, imposing greater stress on coining dies and contributing to rim-area fractures like the one documented by this pre-cud. The 02R designation as only the second reverse pre-cud for the date reflects either limited die deterioration compared to later high-mintage dates or limited systematic examination of the 1861 cent population for die varieties. Pre-cuds from the Civil War era carry additional numismatic context because these coins were actively hoarded for their metallic value as public confidence in paper currency wavered, and many surviving specimens show well-preserved surfaces from early removal from circulation. Identification requires 10-15x magnification with directional lighting to trace the faint raised line from the rim into the adjacent reverse design field, confirming its die-origin nature through comparison with other specimens from the same die and distinguishing it from rim damage acquired during the coin's subsequent 160-plus years of existence.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Devin Anderson
• Cross reference number: none. 02/12/2019.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References