RCD-5c-1867-08 Retained Cud

Description

Reaching sequence eight for the 1867 Shield Nickel without Rays, RCD-5c-1867-08 documents continued die rim failures despite the mid-year removal of the stress-inducing reverse rays from James B. Longacre's design. Eight retained cuds from the No Rays subtype alone — combined with additional With Rays entries — paints a picture of persistent die attrition throughout 1867 production. The Mint's decision to eliminate the rays had been prompted by severe die breakage during the inaugural 1866 production, where radiating design elements between stars created vulnerable thin sections in the die steel. While the smoother No Rays reverse reduced some stress concentrations, eight retained cuds indicates the fundamental challenge of striking hard copper-nickel alloy remained. Each sequential number represents a separate working die that developed its own rim crack, with the fragment remaining seated to impress a raised irregular area on subsequent strikes. The Shield Nickel's obverse Union shield and reverse numeral 5 within a circle of stars continued unchanged between the two reverse types. Struck in 75% copper and 25% nickel at 5.0 grams at Philadelphia. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins. Compare the rim location and fracture pattern against the 1867-05 and 1867-20 entries to distinguish this eighth documented retained cud.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References