RCD-1c-1909-03R Retained Cud

Description

Third reverse retained cud cataloged for the 1909 Lincoln wheat cent VDB variety, RCD-1c-1909-03R documents a die rim fracture on what is arguably the most iconic coin in the entire Lincoln cent series. The 1909 VDB cent — bearing Victor David Brenner's initials prominently displayed at the bottom of the reverse between the wheat ears — was produced for only a brief period before public criticism of the conspicuous initials prompted the Mint to remove them, creating one of numismatics' most famous key dates. Philadelphia struck approximately 27.99 million Lincoln VDB cents before the initials were eliminated, making the VDB variety a moderately scarce but obtainable coin that anchors virtually every Lincoln cent collection. Brenner's debut design represented a radical departure from the previous Indian Head cent series, placing a realistic portrait of President Abraham Lincoln on the obverse — the first time a real person had appeared on a regular-issue United States coin. Retained cuds form when a section of the die rim fractures under the repeated stress of striking but remains held in position by the surrounding die steel, producing a raised, flattened, or slightly disturbed area on struck coins. The R suffix identifies this as a reverse die break, affecting the wheat ears reverse where the fine detail of grain stalks and stems can be disrupted by rim-connected fractures. Cataloged by the Cuds on Coins service with no cross-references to other attribution systems, this variety adds die failure documentation to the historical record of the 1909 VDB production run. Collectors should examine the reverse rim under magnification for the distinctive flat or shelf-like area that distinguishes a retained cud from normal rim imperfections or post-strike damage.

Attribution History

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

External References