CU-50c-1795-01R Cud

Description

Among the earliest documented cud errors in American coinage, the CU-50c-1795-01R represents a major die break on the reverse of the 1795 Flowing Hair Half Dollar — a coin struck during the formative years of the United States Mint when die production technology was still developing and die failures were comparatively more frequent than on later machine-made issues. First cataloged by Cuds on Coins on September 1, 2015, with an updated entry dated June 13, 2022, this cud formed when a section of the reverse die fractured and separated at the rim, leaving behind a void in the die face. When planchets were struck with this damaged die, the area corresponding to the missing die fragment produced a raised, featureless blob of metal extending inward from the rim — the hallmark of a cud error. The Flowing Hair Half Dollar, designed by Robert Scot, was struck in 89.24% silver and 10.76% copper at approximately 13.48 grams. The total mintage for the 1795 half dollar is estimated at around 299,680 pieces across all known die marriages, making any die variety from this date inherently scarce compared to later issues. Cuds on early American silver carry particular significance because each represents a documented die failure within the small die pool available to the early Philadelphia Mint, where replacement dies required considerable effort from the engraving department. The "01R" suffix indicates this was the first reverse cud cataloged for the 1795 half dollar denomination. Examination of the cud's position relative to the wreath and eagle design elements on the Flowing Hair reverse can help determine approximately how much die surface was lost and whether any design features were partially obliterated by the break.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Reedededge on ebay
• Cross reference: none. 09/01/2015. Updated 06/13/2022.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References