CU-1c-1872-03 Cud

Description

Die varieties on the 1872 Indian Head Cent carry special weight among collectors because this date is a semi-key to the series, with a low mintage of approximately 4.0 million pieces. By 1872 the composition had changed from copper-nickel to bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) — a shift made in 1864 — producing the familiar warm brown toning that characterizes the later series. The lower production run means fewer die pairs were consumed, making cuds from this date scarcer in absolute terms than those from higher-mintage years. CU-1c-1872-03 is the third documented cud die for this date, cataloged in the Cuds on Coins reference system and struck at the Philadelphia Mint. A cud forms when a portion of the die rim fractures and breaks away, leaving a void that fills with metal during striking, producing a raised featureless blob along the coin's edge. Collectors building a die variety set for the Indian Head series will find that semi-key dates like 1872 present the dual challenge of date scarcity and variety scarcity. No additional cross-references have been recorded.

External References