CU-100c(Au)-1853-01R Rim Cud

Description

Among the rarest denominations to exhibit a documented cud, this 1853 Liberty Head Gold Dollar variety records a reverse rim die break on a coin struck in .900 fine gold at the Philadelphia Mint. The Liberty Head Gold Dollar — designed by James B. Longacre and produced from 1849 through 1854 in its Type 1 form — was the smallest denomination gold coin struck by the United States Mint, measuring just 13mm in diameter. The diminutive size of the gold dollar die meant that rim fractures operated on a compressed scale compared to larger denominations, and the precious metal composition adds significant numismatic value beyond the variety itself. The 1853 date saw a mintage of 4,076,051 gold dollars at Philadelphia, a substantial figure driven by the California Gold Rush that had dramatically increased the nation's gold supply since 1848. Cuds on gold coinage are exceptionally uncommon in documented catalogs, as the high intrinsic value of these coins encouraged careful die maintenance and relatively lower striking pressures compared to base-metal coinage. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, CU-100c(Au)-1853-01R stands as one of the few gold denomination cud varieties in the entire error coin catalog.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Randall P. Holder Rare Coins
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References