RCD-5c-1869-01 & 02 Retained Cud

Description

A dual retained cud variety on the 1869 Shield Nickel, the RCD-5c-1869-01 & 02 documents the rare occurrence of two separate retained cuds appearing on the same die — two independent rim fractures where broken fragments remained attached, producing a coin bearing two distinct raised irregular masses of metal at different positions along the rim. Dual retained cuds are considerably scarcer than single examples because they require two separate fracture events on the same die, each producing a retained fragment rather than a full separation. The ampersand designation (01 & 02) indicates these are the first and second cataloged retained cuds for the 1869 Shield Nickel, documented together because they appear on specimens from the same working die. The Shield Nickel, produced from 1866 through 1883 in copper-nickel composition, was James B. Longacre's design for America's first standardized five-cent piece. The 1869 date falls in the early maturity of the series, following the removal of the reverse rays after 1867. Attributed by Cuds on Coins, dual retained cud specimens are prized by die variety collectors because they capture a die in advanced multi-point failure — the steel breaking down at two separate locations simultaneously, documenting the comprehensive structural deterioration of a die nearing the end of its service life.

Attribution History

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

External References