1983 (P) Washington Quarter - RCD-25c-1983P-03R Retained Cud

Description

At first appearance resembling a full cud, this 1983 Philadelphia Mint Washington Quarter retained cud reveals lettering within the raised area upon closer examination — a distinguishing characteristic of a fractured die piece that broke free but was held in place during striking. The legible lettering traces within what initially appears to be a blank cud make this variety a useful study piece for understanding the distinction between full and retained cud types. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, with no cross-references to other catalogs. Retained cuds form when a section of the die along the rim fractures completely free, but the broken piece is held in place, usually by the collar, rather than falling out. Because the loose fragment stays in place, it still transfers its design during striking, typically sitting slightly raised or out of line compared to the intact die surface. The 1983 Washington Quarter was struck at Philadelphia, and cud varieties on quarters are collected across all dates and mints within the series. The third retained cud documented for the 1983-P date indicates multiple die failures occurred during production.

Cross References

• Cross reference: none. At first appearance, this seems to be a cud. However, closer examination shows faint traces of lettering in the raised area of the coin. 09/01/2013.

External References