RCD-5c-1867-16 & 17 Retained Cud

Description

Combining two retained cuds under a single catalog entry, RCD-5c-1867-16 and 17 appear on the 1867 Shield Nickel with Rays — the scarcer of the two 1867 sub-types. The Shield Nickel debuted in 1866 with decorative rays between the reverse stars, but the Mint eliminated these rays partway through 1867 because the intricate design accelerated die wear. Specimens retaining the With Rays configuration are therefore scarcer than No Rays counterparts, and die varieties on this sub-type command heightened interest. A retained cud occurs when a die crack reaches the rim and the broken fragment remains lodged, pressing a raised irregular mass onto each subsequent planchet. Two retained cuds cataloged together suggests they appear on the same die or are closely related in failure characteristics. Struck at Philadelphia in 75% copper and 25% nickel, the With Rays design imposed compounded stress on dies — both the hard composition and the detailed ray elements contributed to accelerated deterioration. For Shield Nickel specialists, retained cuds on the scarce 1867 With Rays issue represent uncommon intersections of die failure documentation and sub-type rarity.

Attribution History

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

External References