CU-1c-1865-03 Cud

Description

Cataloged as the third documented cud for the 1865 Indian Head Cent, CU-03 on the Fancy 5 date variety extends the die failure record for this historically significant issue. Multiple cuds on a single date suggest that Philadelphia's die steel experienced recurring rim fractures during 1865 production — unsurprising given the compositional transition underway. The switch from copper-nickel to bronze planchets altered the striking characteristics each die pair encountered, and dies prepared for one alloy may have responded differently to the other, accelerating rim fractures. The Fancy 5 logotype, with its curved and ornamented numeral, represents one of two date punch styles used in 1865 and helps distinguish which obverse die produced a specimen. Cuds manifest as raised, featureless plateaus extending from the rim inward, their shape determined by the specific fragment that broke away. On Longacre's Indian Head design, a cud might obscure portions of the pearl border, date digits, LIBERTY on the headdress ribbon, or reverse wreath details. Three cuds for this date and variety confirm that 1865 dies were pushed to their limits during the first year of bronze cent production.

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