RCD-1c-1803-01R Retained Cud

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this retained cud on the reverse of the 1803 Draped Bust Cent belongs to the Small Date, Small Fraction die marriage, identified by smaller date numerals paired with a compact 1/100 fraction on the reverse. Retained cuds differ from standard cuds critically: a full cud results from a fragment breaking away entirely leaving a featureless shelf, while a retained cud preserves the fragment in place, producing a more complex impression showing both displaced design and the fracture boundary. This distinction makes retained cuds a sought-after subcategory in die failure collecting. The 1803 Draped Bust Cent was produced exclusively at the Philadelphia Mint using copper planchets often uneven in quality. The Small Date, Small Fraction marriage represents one of several documented pairings for this year, each identified through comparison of punch sizes and fraction configurations. Early copper from this period provides a rich field for variety study, as hand-engraved dies, limited runs, and imprecise press technology created frequent failures.

Attribution History

• Cross reference: RCD-1c-1803-01R.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References