RCD-1c-1905-02R Retained Cud

Description

Struck during the Progressive Era four years before the Indian Head Cent's retirement, the 1905 RCD-1c-1905-02R captures the second documented retained cud on reverse dies for this date. The Philadelphia Mint produced 80,719,163 Indian Head Cents in 1905 — one of the highest mintages in the series — driven by the expanding economy. This enormous production pushed working dies to their limits, and the 02R designation confirms at least two distinct reverse dies developed retained cuds during the year. A retained cud forms when a die crack at the rim deepens enough to partially free a segment of die metal, but the fractured piece remains wedged in its original position, continuing to strike coins with a raised irregular mass rather than the flat blob of a fully separated cud. James B. Longacre's Indian Head obverse — depicting Liberty in a feathered headdress — had been in continuous use since 1859, making it one of the longest-running cent designs by this point. Struck in bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) at 3.11 grams. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins as RCD (retained cud), 1c (cent), 1905 (year), 02 (second documented), R (reverse). Inspect the reverse rim for the raised retained fracture distinguishing this from the companion 1905-04R entry.

Attribution History

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

External References