1867 Shield Nickel - No Rays - RCD-5c-1867-11 Retained Cud

Description

RCD-5c-1867-11 documents a terminal die failure on the 1867 Shield Nickel No Rays sub-type struck at Philadelphia. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this variety comes from the year that saw the Shield Nickel undergo its only significant design modification — removing the rays between reverse stars to improve die longevity. Despite that change, the copper-nickel composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel remained demanding on dies in the denomination's second year of production. A retained cud preserves the visual evidence of a die's final hours: a rim-reaching crack has caused a fragment to fracture and remain lodged, pressing its raised impression into every planchet until retirement.

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