CU-2c-1868-01R Cud

Description

Rim cud on the reverse of the 1868 Two Cent Piece documents a die break on one of America's shortest-lived denominations, produced only from 1864 through 1873 and notable as the first U.S. coin to carry the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. James B. Longacre designed both the shield obverse and wreath reverse, and the denomination's relatively small production volumes — Philadelphia struck 2,803,750 Two Cent Pieces in 1868 — mean that die break varieties on this series are considerably scarcer than equivalent errors on contemporary cent production. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins as CU-2c-1868-01R, the "01R" suffix indicates this is the first documented reverse rim cud for the 1868 date. By 1868, the Two Cent Piece was already declining in popularity as the newly introduced Nickel Three Cent Piece and Shield Nickel absorbed much of its commercial role, and mintage figures would drop sharply in subsequent years before the denomination's abolition in 1873. No additional cross-references exist in other attribution systems. The Two Cent Piece's shield-and-motto obverse and ornate wreath reverse provide detailed die surfaces where rim breaks create stark visual contrast between the raised featureless cud material and the adjacent intricate design elements, making these varieties particularly appealing to Civil War-era coinage specialists.

Attribution History

• Cross reference number: none. See CU-2c-1868-01R.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References