PC-1c-1892-01R Pre-Cud

Description

The PC-1c-1892-01R documents a reverse pre-cud on the 1892 Indian Head Cent, cataloged by Cuds on Coins. By the early 1890s, the Indian Head Cent design by James B. Longacre had been in continuous production for over three decades, and the Philadelphia Mint's die production processes were well established for this denomination. Pre-cuds mark the first stage of progressive rim die failure — a crack extending from the edge into the design area without the broken fragment separating — and the reverse wreath design's detailed leaf elements provide multiple points where such cracks can be observed. The 1892 date places this variety at the beginning of the Barber coinage era, when Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber introduced his new designs for dimes, quarters, and half dollars, while the Indian Head Cent continued unchanged. Die break specialists value pre-cuds for the insight they provide into the progression of die failure, as many pre-cuds can be traced to later die states where full cuds eventually developed.

External References