1862 Indian Head Cent Obverse Rim Cud (12 to 4 o'clock)

Description

A large rim cud is visible on the obverse of this 1862 Indian Head cent. A cud occurs when a piece of the die breaks away at the rim, and the planchet metal flows into the void, creating a raised, featureless area on the struck coin. In this case, the cud spans from 12 o'clock to 4 o'clock on the obverse. Additionally, two die cracks are visible on the reverse emanating from the middle arrow and upper wreath areas. The 1862 Indian Head cent was struck during the Civil War when cent hoarding was rampant. Dies were used well beyond their normal lifespan, making die deterioration varieties relatively common for this year.