CU-10c-1838O-01 Rim Cud

Description

Struck at the New Orleans Mint during its inaugural year of operations, this 1838-O Seated Liberty Dime carries the first cataloged rim cud for the date — and one of the earliest documented die failures from the newly established facility. The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838 as the federal government expanded coinage capacity beyond Philadelphia, and dimes were among the first denominations produced there. A rim cud forms when a section of the die edge fractures and the broken piece separates entirely, leaving a cavity that fills with metal during striking to produce a raised featureless mass at the rim. The Seated Liberty design by Christian Gobrecht, featuring Liberty seated on a rock holding a liberty cap on a pole, served on the dime from 1837 through 1891. First-year New Orleans coins carry special historical significance because they represent the launch of Southern branch mint operations, and die varieties from 1838-O document the mechanical challenges of establishing a new facility with fresh equipment and personnel. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this rim cud preserves evidence of die stress from the dawn of New Orleans Mint dime production.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Randall P
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References