RCD-2c-1865-01R Retained Cud

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, the RCD-2c-1865-01R is the first documented reverse retained cud on the 1865 Two Cent Piece — a denomination that circulated for only a decade from 1864 to 1873 and is far less commonly encountered in die variety catalogs than the cent or nickel. The Two Cent Piece holds a unique distinction in American numismatics: it was the first U.S. coin to carry the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, introduced on James B. Longacre's obverse design featuring a large federal shield. The reverse displays a simple wreath encircling the denomination 2 CENTS, and the "01R" designation confirms the retained cud appears on this reverse die. Retained cuds form when a die fractures at the rim and the broken section remains trapped during striking, and on the Two Cent Piece — which was struck in bronze at the Philadelphia Mint — these rim failures follow the same metallurgical principles as on other bronze-composition coins of the era. The 1865 date is the second year of the series, produced in substantial quantities as the new denomination gained commercial acceptance during the post-Civil War period. Die break varieties on the Two Cent Piece are uncommon in the collecting market due to the denomination's brief production span and limited collector base compared to cents.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Fred Weinberg
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References