RCD-1c-1880-01R Retained Cud

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, the RCD-1c-1880-01R documents the first reverse retained cud identified for the 1880 Indian Head Cent — a date from the early years of a production surge that would characterize the 1880s decade. Retained cuds occur when a die fractures at the rim and the broken section remains in position during striking, creating a distinctive raised crack outline on coins with partially preserved design detail in the affected area. The "01R" designation places this as both the first cataloged retained cud for the date and a reverse die variety, appearing on James B. Longacre's oak wreath design. The 1880 Indian Head Cent was struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a mintage of approximately 38.9 million pieces, a significant increase over the lower-mintage years of the 1870s that reflected growing commercial demand for small-denomination coinage. Reverse retained cuds on Indian Head Cents affect the wreath's detailed leaf and berry elements along the rim, and the severity ranges from subtle crack outlines to dramatically raised areas depending on how far the die fragment separated during the failure.

Attribution History

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

External References