CU-1c-1862-02R Cud

Description

The 1862 Indian Head Cent produced an extraordinary number of documented reverse cuds — at least six are cataloged in this sequence alone — making it one of the most prolific dates for reverse die failures in the entire series. CU-1c-1862-02R is the second documented reverse cud for the year, as indicated by the "R" suffix denoting a reverse die break. Despite the Civil War raging through its second year, the Philadelphia Mint struck approximately 28.1 million Indian Head Cents in copper-nickel alloy, consuming numerous die pairs in the process. Each die had a finite working life, and the volume of production pushed many to their breaking point. A reverse cud forms when a section of the reverse die rim fractures and separates, and the resulting cavity fills with metal during striking, producing a raised featureless mass along the coin's edge. With multiple reverse cuds documented for 1862, collectors face the challenge of distinguishing one from another by comparing the cud's position, size, and shape against published reference images. CU-1c-1862-02R is cataloged in the Cuds on Coins reference system.

External References