1875 Indian Head Cent Pre-Cud Obverse (12:30 to 2:00) FS-301 Late Die State

Description

Representing a later die state of the die pair cataloged under FS-301, this 1875 Indian Head Cent documents a pre-cud die crack spanning from 12:30 to 2:00 on the obverse, passing through the top of OF in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A pre-cud records the stage where the rim has cracked but the fractured piece has not yet broken away. The FS-301 parent variety is primarily known as a repunched date, with 18 repunched under 18, and that repunching remains visible on this later state. The progression from the FS-301 repunched date to this pre-cud illustrates the working life cycle of a single die pair — first identified by its date repunching, then developing the rim crack as accumulated striking stress weakened the die edge. This die progression variety ties two seemingly different error types — repunched date and pre-cud — to the same physical die, demonstrating that attribution must account for evolving conditions across the production run. The 1875 Indian Head Cent was struck at Philadelphia during Reconstruction. The repunched date characteristics are still present, but this specimen captures a more advanced stage of die deterioration on the FS-301 die.

Attribution History

• FS-301