1868 Shield Nickel - RCD-5c-1868-04 Retained Cud

Description

Cataloged for the 1868 Shield Nickel in the Cuds on Coins reference system, RCD-5c-1868-04 documents a die break at the rim where the fractured piece of die metal remained in place rather than separating entirely. Unlike a full cud — where the broken fragment falls away, leaving a void that fills with planchet metal to create a design-free raised blob — a retained cud keeps the broken section in place, and the loose piece continues to strike coins, typically sinking so that a raised plateau carrying its design forms where the fracture line runs. The retained die fragment shifts slightly under repeated striking pressure, creating a distinctive pattern that is neither normal design detail nor the clean absence of a full cud. The 1868 Shield Nickel was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in the hard 75% copper and 25% nickel alloy at 5.0 grams — a composition that imposed significant stress on working dies, contributing to the frequency of die cracks and breaks in this series. James B. Longacre's shield motif obverse and the large numeral 5 within a wreath on the reverse define the design. The catalog code follows Cuds on Coins format: RCD for retained cud, 5c for the nickel denomination, 1868 for the year, and 04 as the catalog number. Examine the rim for the fracture line and distorted zone.

External References