CU-1c-1887-02R Cud

Description

Second documented reverse cud for the 1887 Indian Head Cent, CU-1c-1887-02R represents a distinct die from the -01R entry, recording an independent instance of complete rim separation on a different reverse die used during the year's production run. Each cud originates from a unique die, and sequential numbering indicates the order of cataloging rather than any production chronology. The "R" suffix confirms the rim fracture occurred on the reverse die bearing the oak wreath and shield design, leaving the obverse — Liberty in headdress — unaffected by this particular die failure. Indian Head Cents of the late 1880s were struck on planchets weighing 3.11 grams with a diameter of 19mm, dimensions standardized since the 1864 transition from the heavier copper-nickel composition to the lighter bronze alloy. The striking pressure required to fully render the wreath design in high relief concentrated stress at the die rim, and multiple documented cuds from a single date indicate that rim failure was a recurring event across different die pairs rather than an isolated incident. The 1887 Philadelphia Mint production consumed numerous die pairs over the course of the year, and the three documented reverse cuds for this date represent the known survivors from what was likely a larger number of rim failures — many of which may have been caught during quality inspection or occurred late enough in a die's life that relatively few coins were struck before the die was retired. Collectors assembling cud inventories by date find the 1887 Indian Head particularly rewarding given its multiple documented examples.

External References