CU-5c-1866-01 Cud

Description

Among the earliest nickel issues to exhibit a documented rim cud, CU-5c-1866-01 appears on the 1866 Shield Nickel with Rays — the very first year of the Shield Nickel series and only the second year of nickel five-cent coinage in American history. The Shield Nickel was authorized by the Act of May 16, 1866, as a replacement for the smaller half dime, using a copper-nickel alloy that could withstand heavy circulation. The 1866 "with Rays" subtype features decorative rays between the stars on the reverse, a design element removed after 1866 due to striking difficulties caused by the high-relief design. A rim cud forms when a section of the die at the rim fractures away completely, leaving a cavity that fills with metal during striking. This variety also cross-references as RCD-5c-1866-02, a retained cud designation suggesting a related die state where the broken fragment remained partially attached. The existence of both cud and retained cud catalog entries for the same die indicates documentation across multiple stages of progressive die failure. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Fred Weinberg
• Cross reference number: CU-5c-1866-01 & RCD-5c-1866-02.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References