RCD-5c-1868-02 Retained Cud

Description

The RCD-5c-1868-02 documents a retained cud on the 1868 Shield Nickel, the third year of production for James B. Longacre's shield design. Retained cuds form when a die fractures at the rim but the broken fragment remains held in place by surrounding die steel and clamping pressure, producing coins that show the crack outline as a raised line while preserving some design detail within the break zone. This distinguishes them from full cuds, where the separated fragment falls away and leaves a featureless raised area. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this variety appears on the No Rays reverse that became standard beginning in 1867. Shield Nickels from the late 1860s were struck during the post-Civil War era when the nickel five-cent piece was still establishing itself alongside the obsolete half dime, and die varieties from this period reflect the production challenges of an expanding national coinage system. The retained cud on this 1868 issue provides collectors with tangible evidence of die deterioration in the early years of nickel coinage.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jon Sullivan
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References