PC-1c-1864-01R Pre-Cud

Description

The first documented reverse pre-cud on the 1864 Indian Head Cent without the designer's initial — the Bronze No L sub-type — is cataloged by Cuds on Coins as PC-1c-1864-01R. The 1864 Bronze No L represents the initial bronze composition Indian Head Cents produced that year before James B. Longacre's initial was added to the ribbon mid-production, making it the transitional variant between the earlier copper-nickel cents and the later L on Ribbon bronze issue. Pre-cuds appear as raised rim cracks on the coin's surface, indicating that the die has begun to fracture at its edge but the damaged section has not yet separated — they represent the earliest detectable stage in the progression from intact die to full cud. The "01R" designation confirms this as the first reverse pre-cud documented for the Bronze No L sub-type, and its companion variety PC-1c-1864-01R on the L on Ribbon sub-type documents the same die failure type on the other 1864 variant. Comparing pre-cud patterns across the two 1864 sub-types allows researchers to assess whether the composition change or the die modifications needed to add the L initial affected die longevity and fracture susceptibility at the rim.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References