PC-5c-1883-07 Pre-Cud

Description

Seventh pre-cud documented for the 1883 Liberty Head Nickel - No CENTS variety by the Cuds on Coins attribution service, PC-5c-1883-07 records a stage of die failure that preceded a full cud break on this historically significant first-year nickel type. Charles E. Barber designed the Liberty Head nickel, which debuted in 1883 initially without the word CENTS on the reverse — an omission that was quickly corrected mid-year after unscrupulous individuals gold-plated the nickel-sized coins and passed them as five-dollar gold pieces. The pre-cud condition represents an intermediate stage of die deterioration: a crack has formed connecting two points on the die rim (or from the rim through the design), but the enclosed piece of die steel has not yet broken away. On struck coins, this manifests as a raised irregular area bounded by crack lines, with the enclosed design still intact but slightly displaced or distorted compared to adjacent uncracked areas. Philadelphia produced approximately 5.48 million Liberty Head nickels of the No CENTS variety before the reverse was modified to include the denomination. The existence of seven documented pre-cuds for this issue — PC-5c-1883-01 through at least 07 — reflects significant die stress during production, likely attributable to the relatively hard nickel alloy (75% copper, 25% nickel) that imposed higher striking pressures than softer metals. The sequential catalog number indicates this pre-cud occurs on a die distinct from the other six documented examples, with each showing different crack patterns, positions, and severity. Collectors examining 1883 No CENTS nickels should look for raised crack lines that partially or fully enclose a section of the design near the rim, a diagnostic visible under 5-10x magnification.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References