PC-1c-1837-05 Pre-Cud

Description

Appearing on the Plain Cords, Medium Letters die variant of the 1837 Modified Matron Head Coronet Head Cent, this pre-cud was cataloged by Cuds on Coins with no cross-references (dated 02/17/2025). Sharing the same PC-1c-1837-05 designation but attributed to the Medium Letters subtype rather than the Small Letters variant, this listing documents a developing die rim crack on a different die pairing from the same year. Pre-cuds capture the stage of die failure where the rim has cracked but the fractured section remains attached, showing the fracture pattern before the break progresses to a retained cud or full cud. The distinction between Medium Letters and Small Letters subtypes reflects the multiple letter punches used across different die pairings during 1837 cent production at the Philadelphia Mint. The Modified Matron Head design represented Christian Gobrecht's refinement of the Matron Head type, characterized by a smaller Liberty head with redesigned hair and coronet details. Large copper cents of the late 1830s were struck at the sole U.S. Mint facility in Philadelphia, and die preparation was an entirely manual craft where each die was individually created, hardened, and put into service until it failed. The 02/17/2025 catalog date demonstrates that pre-Civil War copper varieties continue to be documented nearly 190 years after the coins were produced, as researchers examine surviving specimens with modern tools and classification systems.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Anna Antunez
• Cross reference: None. 02/17/2025.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References