CU-1C-1847-04 Rim Cud

Description

Documented by Cuds on Coins as CU-1C-1847-04, this rim cud on an 1847 Braided Hair cent represents a die break from one of the earliest American coin series that large cent collectors actively pursue for error content. The Braided Hair design, created by Christian Gobrecht and introduced in 1839, features Liberty wearing a coronet with her hair arranged in an elaborate braided pattern, surrounded by thirteen stars. Die failures producing cuds were not uncommon in this era, as the relatively primitive die steel and hand-operated screw presses of the mid-19th century subjected dies to severe mechanical stress. The 1847 Philadelphia Mint production of large cents totaled 6.18 million pieces, a healthy mintage that nonetheless means each individual die pair contributed a meaningful fraction of the total output, unlike modern cents where individual die pairs account for fractions of a percent. No cross-references to other cataloging systems have been established for this variety. The fourth documented cud for the 1847 date, this rim break joins a small family of known die failures for the year. Large cent cuds from the 1839-1857 Braided Hair series occupy a specialized niche within error numismatics, bridging the gap between classic copper collecting and die variety study. Because pre-Civil War copper coins have been collected since the 19th century itself, cud examples from this period may carry provenance histories extending back generations. The raised featureless area where the die broke away contrasts dramatically with Gobrecht's finely detailed Liberty portrait and wreath reverse, making cuds from this series visually striking display pieces in addition to their numismatic significance.

Attribution History

• CU-1C-1847-04; none.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References