RCD-25c-1857-01R Retained Cud

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this retained cud affects the reverse of the 1857 Seated Liberty Quarter struck at the Philadelphia Mint, the sole facility producing quarters for this date. The Seated Liberty design by Christian Gobrecht ran from 1838 through 1891, spanning over half a century of American coinage. A retained cud forms when a die fragment fractures but remains lodged in position rather than falling away, producing struck coins showing both the disrupted design and the outline of the retained piece. This distinguishes retained cuds from full cuds, where the fragment separates entirely leaving a featureless raised shelf. The obverse also exhibits a die crack, adding a secondary form of deterioration that complements the reverse retained cud. Die cracks on the obverse paired with a retained cud on the reverse suggest this die pair was experiencing progressive failure on both sides. Seated Liberty Quarters with documented die failures are actively pursued by specialists studying die longevity across the series.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jim Poston GFRC-Coins on ebay
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References