PC-1c-1884-02R Pre-Cud

Description

Documenting incipient die failure at the 2 o'clock position on the reverse, PC-1c-1884-02R preserves the moment before a full cud break on an 1884 Indian Head Cent. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this pre-cud variety shows rim weakness or cracking that would have progressed to a complete die chip with continued use. The 1884 Indian Head Cent was struck in the bronze composition (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) adopted in 1864, a softer alloy that generally produced cleaner strikes but allowed dies to deteriorate in predictable patterns at rim stress points. Pre-cuds at the 2 o'clock reverse position affect the area near the wreath design that frames ONE CENT, where the transition between the rim and the die face creates a natural stress concentration. Understanding the location and progression of pre-cuds helps researchers reconstruct the sequence of die states and estimate how many coins were struck before a die was retired or broke catastrophically.

Attribution History

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

External References