RCD-2c-1864-03 Retained Cud

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, the RCD-2c-1864-03 is the third retained cud variety documented for the 1864 Two Cent Piece with Large Motto — a denomination that holds the distinction of being the first U.S. coin to bear the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, introduced during the Civil War as a reflection of the nation's religious sentiment during wartime crisis. A retained cud forms when a rim section of the die fractures but the broken piece stays in approximate position, producing a raised displaced area on struck coins that retains partial design detail. James B. Longacre designed the Two Cent Piece, which features a shield with a ribbon inscribed IN GOD WE TRUST on the obverse and a wreath enclosing the denomination on the reverse. The "Large Motto" designation distinguishes the 1864 variety where the motto letters are rendered in a larger, bolder style from the "Small Motto" variant of the same year, which is significantly scarcer and commands substantial premiums. Philadelphia struck approximately 19.8 million Large Motto Two Cent Pieces in 1864, the inaugural year of the denomination that would continue through 1873 with progressively declining mintages. Three retained cuds for the first-year issue suggest that the initial die preparation for this new denomination involved some learning curve in die construction and hardening processes. No cross-references from other attribution services have been established. Retained cuds on Two Cent Pieces are less frequently encountered than those on Lincoln cents, reflecting both the shorter series span and the generally lower mintages, making each documented example a meaningful addition to the die variety catalog for this collected but underappreciated denomination.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jack Sellards
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References