1867 Shield Nickel - No Rays - PC-5c-1867-21 Pre-Cud

Description

Cataloged in the Cuds on Coins reference system, PC-5c-1867-21 preserves a retained die crack at the rim of an 1867 Shield Nickel of the "No Rays" variety, the reverse type introduced early in 1867 when the rays between the stars were removed. Pre-cuds capture the intermediate stage of die failure where a crack has propagated from the die's rim inward, but the fractured fragment remains in place rather than breaking free. The struck coin shows a raised hairline tracing the crack's path — a possible precursor to the featureless raised blob that results if the cracked piece ever falls out to form a full cud. The hard nickel alloy — 75% copper and 25% nickel at 5.0 grams — imposed considerable stress on the working dies. James B. Longacre's obverse shield motif and the reverse wreath with a prominent numeral 5 define this post-Civil War design, struck at the Philadelphia Mint. Look for the retained crack line extending from the rim inward to identify this variety.

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