CU-1c-1803-04A Cud

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, CU-1c-1803-04A documents a cud die break on an 1803 Draped Bust Large Cent bearing the distinctive 100/000 fraction — a die variety where the denominator was over-punched, creating a fraction that reads as 1/000 rather than the intended 1/100. The "04A" designation identifies both the die number and a sub-variant, with the "A" suffix distinguishing this cud from others on die number 04 at different stages of deterioration. Cuds form when a piece of the die rim breaks away entirely, leaving a void that fills with metal during striking and produces a raised, featureless blob along the coin's edge — distinct from die cracks, which are linear, and die chips, which are smaller and typically internal. Early American large cents from the 1803 vintage occupy a specialized collecting field where die state tracking has been practiced for over a century, with references like Sheldon numbers providing a comprehensive framework. The 100/000 over-punched fraction adds a layer of die-making history to the production-line drama of a cud break, combining two distinct categories of numismatic interest on a single coin.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Friscomint1793 on eBay
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References