PC-5c-1867-15 Pre-Cud

Description

Fifteenth cataloged pre-cud for the 1867 Shield Nickel in the No Rays variety, PC-5c-1867-15 belongs to a date that has yielded an unusually deep catalog of rim-area die cracks. The Shield Nickel, designed by James B. Longacre and introduced in 1866 as the first five-cent coin in the nickel alloy, underwent an early design modification when the radiating rays between the reverse stars were removed after 1866 — the "No Rays" designation confirms this 1867 specimen carries the simplified reverse. Fifteen documented pre-cuds for a single date suggests that the harder nickel alloy and Longacre's high-relief design imposed significant stress on working dies, promoting rim-area fractures at a rate exceeding contemporary copper and silver issues. Post-Civil War coinage production was scaling up rapidly to replace the paper fractional currency that had circulated during the conflict, and elevated die consumption left ample evidence of progressive failure. Philadelphia Mint, 75% copper and 25% nickel. Cataloged and verified by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

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

External References