RCD-5c-1876-01 & 02 Retained Cud

Description

A dual retained cud on the 1876 Shield Nickel — America's Centennial year — the RCD-5c-1876-01 & 02 documents two independent rim fractures on the same die, each producing a retained fragment that struck coins with two distinct raised irregular masses along the rim. The dual designation indicates that both retained cuds appear together on specimens from this single working die, making this a multi-point die failure specimen. The 1876 date carries special historical resonance: the United States' hundredth anniversary was celebrated with the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, and coins from this year are sought by collectors who focus on commemorative dates. The Shield Nickel's copper-nickel composition — harder than the silver alloys used for other circulating denominations — placed greater stress on dies during striking, contributing to the rim fractures that produce cuds and retained cuds. Attributed by Cuds on Coins, dual retained cuds are inherently scarce regardless of the base coin's availability, as they require two separate fracture events on a single die with both fragments remaining attached. The 1876 Shield Nickel was produced at the Philadelphia Mint during the same year the Mint displayed its facilities and products at the Centennial Exposition, connecting this die failure variety to a landmark moment in American coinage history.

Attribution History

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

External References