CU-1C-1838-3 Cud

Description

Third documented cud for the 1838 Modified Matron Head Coronet Head Large Cent, this variety records a die rim failure on one of the largest denominations ever produced for regular American commerce. Large cents of this era were struck in pure copper at approximately 10.89 grams and 27.5 millimeters in diameter — roughly the size of a modern half dollar — making any cud on these coins visually prominent and easy to appreciate. The 1838 date falls within the Modified Matron Head subtype of the Coronet Head design, which was struck at the Philadelphia Mint from 1816 through 1839. A cud forms when a section of the die rim fractures and the separated fragment leaves a cavity that fills with copper during striking, producing a raised featureless mass along the rim of the finished coin. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins under CU-1C-1838-3, cuds on pre-Civil War copper coinage are less commonly encountered than those on modern clad issues, owing both to the lower survival rates of early copper cents and the comparatively smaller production volumes of the 1830s Philadelphia Mint compared to modern facilities.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Friscomint1793 on eBay
• CU-1C-1838-3; none.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References