RCD-5c-1867-06 Retained Cud

Description

The sixth retained cud documented on the 1867 Shield Nickel No Rays variety, the RCD-5c-1867-06 records a die failure on one of the earliest five-cent pieces struck in copper-nickel composition. The Shield Nickel's 1867 production marks the first full year of the "No Rays" subtype — the original 1866 design by James B. Longacre featured rays between the stars on the reverse, but these were removed in 1867 to improve die life and reduce striking pressure. A retained cud forms when a section of the die rim fractures but the broken fragment remains partially attached, striking coins with a raised irregular mass of metal along the affected edge. The "R" designation confirms the fragment stayed in place rather than separating to create a full cud. Shield Nickels present unique challenges for die variety collectors: the series' relatively short production span (1866-1883) and lower survival rates compared to later nickel designs mean that fewer specimens survive for examination. Attributed by Cuds on Coins, the RCD-5c-1867-06 joins at least nine other retained cuds for the 1867 date, indicating that these early copper-nickel dies experienced significant rim stress during production — a phenomenon consistent with the challenges of striking the new alloy composition that replaced the earlier silver half dime.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Fred Weinberg
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References