RCD-5c-1883-16R Retained Cud

Description

One of the most storied coins in American numismatics lends its name to this variety: the 1883 Liberty Head Nickel without the word CENTS — the infamous "Racketeer Nickel" whose resemblance to the five-dollar gold piece tempted enterprising individuals to gold-plate them and pass them at face value of five dollars. Charles E. Barber's original reverse design omitted the denomination entirely, an oversight corrected mid-year with the addition of CENTS. RCD-5c-1883-16R catalogs the sixteenth documented retained cud for this No CENTS variety, with the "R" suffix confirming it affects the reverse — the side whose missing denomination made the coin notorious. A retained cud on this particular reverse holds special numismatic resonance because the reverse design itself became the subject of immediate public controversy and rapid redesign. Sixteen cataloged retained cuds for a first-year type coin suggests heavy die usage during the initial production push. Philadelphia Mint, 75% copper and 25% nickel. Cataloged and verified by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• Cross reference: none. 06/08/2018.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References