1849 Liberty Gold Dollar - Open Wreath - CU-100c(OW)-1849-01R Cud

Description

CU-100c(OW)-1849-01R is a reverse cud on the 1849 Liberty Head Gold Dollar with the Open Wreath reverse. The 1849 Liberty Head Gold Dollar was the inaugural year of the denomination, authorized by the Act of March 3, 1849, which created both the gold dollar and the double eagle ($20 gold piece) in response to the massive influx of California Gold Rush bullion reaching the East Coast mints. James B. Longacre's Liberty Head design debuted on these coins, and the Open Wreath reverse variant — distinguished from the Close Wreath by the wider gap between the wreath ends and the 1 of the denomination — was used early in the production run. Reverse die cracks accompany the cud, indicating progressive structural failure in the die beyond the primary rim fracture. The gold dollar's tiny 13mm diameter means that even a small cud occupies a proportionally significant area of the coin's surface. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, which notes reverse die cracks along with the cud.

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