RCD-1c-1887-02R Retained Cud

Description

From the mature middle period of the Indian Head Cent series, the 1887 RCD-1c-1887-02R documents the second retained cud cataloged on reverse working dies for this Gilded Age date. The Philadelphia Mint produced 45,226,483 Indian Head Cents in 1887 — a substantial run reflecting healthy demand for small denomination coinage during rapid industrialization. High mintages correlate with heavier die usage, as more working dies were pressed into extended service to meet production quotas, increasing the likelihood of rim fractures. The retained cud mechanism involves a die crack propagating inward from the rim, with the fractured segment remaining lodged in place — the resulting raised area on struck coins shows partial design detail rather than the smooth, featureless plateau of a complete cud break. James B. Longacre's reverse oak wreath and shield design, unchanged since 1860, provides the canvas on which this die failure manifests. Struck in bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) at 3.11 grams. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins as RCD (retained cud), 1c (cent), 1887 (year), 02 (second documented), R (reverse). Look for the raised irregular mass along the reverse rim where the retained fragment continued impressing coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Robert (Bob) Russell
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References