1831 Matron Head Large Cent (Large Letters) N-10 Obverse Rim Cud

Description

Identified on the Newcomb N-10 die variety of the 1831 Matron Head large cent with Large Letters reverse, this obverse rim cud represents a dramatic die failure on one of the classic early American copper coin types. The cud — a section of the obverse die along the rim that broke away between approximately the 1 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions — left a raised, featureless area on struck coins where the missing die fragment prevented the normal transfer of design detail during striking. Unlike retained cuds where the fractured section remains attached, a full cud involves complete separation of the die fragment, and the resulting void in the die produces a distinctly raised, smooth blob on the coin's surface that contrasts sharply with the surrounding design elements. Robert Scot's Matron Head design (also known as the Coronet Head), produced from 1816 to 1839, features a left-facing Liberty with a coronet band inscribed LIBERTY, surrounded by thirteen stars with the date below. The Newcomb N-10 die variety classification, from Howard R. Newcomb's comprehensive 1944 reference on United States large cents, identifies the specific die pairing that carried this cud — the N-10 designation anchors this variety within the established large cent die identification system that has been the standard reference for nearly a century. Philadelphia struck large cents as the sole producing mint, and the 1831 issue had a mintage of approximately 3.36 million pieces. The 1 o'clock to 2 o'clock rim position places the cud in the upper right quadrant of the obverse, likely affecting the area between stars or the outer portion of Liberty's hair and forehead detail. Collectors can identify this variety by the unmistakable raised featureless mass at the described clock position on N-10 die specimens.

Attribution History

• Discovered by NumisDexDealer
• Newcomb N-10