1865 Two Cent Piece - RCD-2c-1865-05R Retained Cud

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins (as 05R & 06R & 07R), RCD-2c-1865-05R records a reverse die rim failure during the denomination's second year of production. The "R" suffix designates this as a reverse retained cud, locating the die fracture on the wreath-and-denomination side of James B. Longacre's design. Philadelphia struck approximately 13.64 million Two Cent Pieces in 1865, a high-volume year that reflected continued wartime demand as the Civil War drew toward its conclusion in April of that year. No cross-references from other attribution services have been documented for this variety. The Two Cent Piece's obverse features a shield with the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on a banner above — the first appearance of this motto on any U.S. coin — while the reverse displays the denomination "2 CENTS" within a wheat wreath. The retained condition means the fractured segment has broken free of the die body and is held in place, producing a raised area that blends displacement with the design it still carries. Collectors should examine the reverse rim under moderate magnification, looking for a section that appears elevated above the normal rim plane while still showing faint traces of the wreath or lettering that the intact die would have impressed.

External References