RCD-5c-1867-22 Retained Cud

Description

Twenty-second retained cud cataloged for the 1867 Shield Nickel without Rays, RCD-5c-1867-22 documents a significant die failure census for one of the earliest dates in United States nickel coinage. The "No Rays" reverse variant was introduced during 1867 production after James B. Longacre's original "With Rays" design proved too difficult to strike — the prominent rays between the stars on the reverse, combined with the hard 75% copper / 25% nickel composition, created opposing high-relief elements that prevented proper metal flow. Removing the rays reduced striking pressure requirements and extended die life, though clearly did not eliminate die rim failures entirely as this extensive retained cud census demonstrates. Cross-referenced with a documentation date of October 4, 2018, this variety was cataloged by Cuds on Coins. Philadelphia struck approximately 28.89 million No Rays Shield nickels in 1867, the first substantial production of the simplified reverse type. Twenty-two documented retained cuds for a single date of this denomination represents remarkable census depth, suggesting the combination of the hard nickel alloy and the bold shield design continued to impose significant die stress even after the ray elements were removed from the reverse. Each retained cud records an independent die whose rim fractured completely through its thickness while the broken section remained attached, producing coins bearing the characteristic raised displacement and visible crack boundary. The Shield nickel's geometric design — a large federal shield with horizontal and vertical lines on the obverse, a bold numeral 5 within a circle of stars on the reverse — creates sharply defined rim areas where fractures produce clearly diagnostic features visible under modest magnification.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• Cross reference: none. 10/04/2018.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References