Hump Day Cud - A review of "The Cud Book" by Thurman and Margolis
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I finally gave-in and plucked down $26 to purchase "The Cud Book" by Sam Thurman and Arnold Margolis, NLG.
Now, this book is PERFECT for anyone interested in Cud's, because well, it has A LOT of images of coins with Cuds; US coins most dominant.
I was excited to receive my copy because I too collect Cud's and am fascinated by the mechanism in which they form and all the different shapes they take.
When the book arrived this morning from the less-than-reliant mail lady, I didn't hesitate to unwrap the very tightly wrapped and secure packaging.
I was looking forward to seeing all the "1000's of photographs covering all denominations in this 242 page book" as stated from the seller.
My main interest, if you may or may not already know, is in Bust Silver coins with Cud's, as well as the esoteric denominations which don't often exhibit Cud formation for whatever reason.
I tend not to get as excited about Cud's on the generally more modern issues, as these tend to be much more "common" and of lesser significance in my view.
Like I do with every new numismatic book I receive I started from the beginning, reading all that this book is about.
Quickly after reading the intro I began to thumb through the book.
What I saw and soon realized was that there are exactly 100 pages dedicated to Cuds on Lincoln Cents (both Wheat and Memorial - though 1996)
That's 40% of the book just on Lincoln Cent Cud's. Well needless to say I wanted to know how much time and dedication was spent on the Bust series'
I made my way over, chronologically, to the Bust Half-Dime section. What did I find, but 8 listings, and only 5 images, out of a minimum of 29 Bust Half-Dimes known for their Cuds.
I was upset, but not deterred, so I made my way over to the next section of interest, Bust Dimes.
Now, there are at least 34 different dies which exhibit the formation of a Cud, so I was expecting/hoping to see at least half of this number.
What I found actually surprised me. There were 15 different Die Marriages listed, with multiples to show different die stages. I was pleased, but still not completely satisfied.
I continued to thumb through the book for about 45 minutes. Taking out samples from my collection and comparing it to examples in this book.
I realized that I have several examples in my collection (non-modern) which aren't listed in the book which made me enjoy what I have even more.
Overall, I'd give the book a B+ or A-. A lot of time and work was put into cataloging all these pieces, so having ommitted examples should be expected, even if its from the series and time period which I enjoy the most.
I will post a couple of images from the book in a little bit
Now, this book is PERFECT for anyone interested in Cud's, because well, it has A LOT of images of coins with Cuds; US coins most dominant.
I was excited to receive my copy because I too collect Cud's and am fascinated by the mechanism in which they form and all the different shapes they take.
When the book arrived this morning from the less-than-reliant mail lady, I didn't hesitate to unwrap the very tightly wrapped and secure packaging.
I was looking forward to seeing all the "1000's of photographs covering all denominations in this 242 page book" as stated from the seller.
My main interest, if you may or may not already know, is in Bust Silver coins with Cud's, as well as the esoteric denominations which don't often exhibit Cud formation for whatever reason.
I tend not to get as excited about Cud's on the generally more modern issues, as these tend to be much more "common" and of lesser significance in my view.
Like I do with every new numismatic book I receive I started from the beginning, reading all that this book is about.
Quickly after reading the intro I began to thumb through the book.
What I saw and soon realized was that there are exactly 100 pages dedicated to Cuds on Lincoln Cents (both Wheat and Memorial - though 1996)
That's 40% of the book just on Lincoln Cent Cud's. Well needless to say I wanted to know how much time and dedication was spent on the Bust series'
I made my way over, chronologically, to the Bust Half-Dime section. What did I find, but 8 listings, and only 5 images, out of a minimum of 29 Bust Half-Dimes known for their Cuds.
I was upset, but not deterred, so I made my way over to the next section of interest, Bust Dimes.
Now, there are at least 34 different dies which exhibit the formation of a Cud, so I was expecting/hoping to see at least half of this number.
What I found actually surprised me. There were 15 different Die Marriages listed, with multiples to show different die stages. I was pleased, but still not completely satisfied.
I continued to thumb through the book for about 45 minutes. Taking out samples from my collection and comparing it to examples in this book.
I realized that I have several examples in my collection (non-modern) which aren't listed in the book which made me enjoy what I have even more.
Overall, I'd give the book a B+ or A-. A lot of time and work was put into cataloging all these pieces, so having ommitted examples should be expected, even if its from the series and time period which I enjoy the most.
I will post a couple of images from the book in a little bit
0
Comments
1828 O-104
1828 O-112
though it's well over 10 years old.
Frank Leone is trying to issue a new comprehensive
Cud book, and I hope it comes out in the next year
or two.
I was around in the mid/late 60's when Cuds became
very popular, especially within the local error coin
clubs; Mort Goodman's detailed explainations of how
they occur, the characteristics of them (the weakness
on the opposite side of the cud, etc.) and the definition
of them led to a wide-ranging collector base at the time.
Since then, although error collectors still like them, they
have fallen 'behind' in popularity, imo - they've been
overlooked, underappreciated, and not well-known
as far as most newer discoveries.
For me, a new Cud Book with updated listings and better
photographs would be one of the most anticipated books
I'd like to see in the next two years!
<< <i>It's the best Cud book out at this time, even
though it's well over 10 years old. >>
10 year old books like this are nothing.
Off the top of my head I can list at least 5-10 books that are 20+ years old that should be updated for collectors of today.
So 10 years isn't much of an issue, especially for a slightly more esoteric collecting area such as this.
<< <i>Frank Leone is trying to issue a new comprehensive
Cud book, and I hope it comes out in the next year
or two.
For me, a new Cud Book with updated listings and better
photographs would be one of the most anticipated books
I'd like to see in the next two years! >>
That's exciting to hear, and I look forward to picking up the book when it comes out.
Do you know how I might be able to contact him if I wanted to check if he has listed a certain Cud or not?
Like I mentioned above, there are several 19th and early 20th century Cud's in my collection unlisted in "The Cud Book"
I would just like for Frank to be able to add these examples before the final version is published
" ...out of a minimum of 29 Bust Half-Dimes known for their cuds"
In February of 2005 Dr. Peterson and I wrote an article for the John Reich Journal (official quarterly publication of the JRCS), in which we ennumerate a total of twenty-four (24) known die marriages of Capped Bust half dimes with cuds. Did we miss a few? Our list included:
Date L/M Valentine Location of Cud
1829 LM-3 V2 Rev: Above IT
LM-7.3 V4c Rev: Above ER
1830 LM-1.2 V10d Rev: Above ERI; top of A2
LM-5 V13 Obv: *5 - *6
1831 LM-1.3 V6c Rev: Above NIT
LM-2 V7 Rev: Above R
LM-3 V2 Obv: *2 - *4
1832 LM-4 V12 Obv: Above cap
LM-5 V8e Rev: ITED STA
LM-10.4 V13 Rev: TES OF A
1833 LM-1 V7 Rev: ED STATE
LM-3.5 V4d Rev: NITE
LM-4.3 V3c Rev: F A
LM-6 V8 Rev: CA
LM-8 V2 Rev: ITED STA
1834 LM-1 V5 Rev: Above ED
1835 LM-1 V2 Rev: ITE
LM-3 V3c Rev: CA
LM-4 V11 Rev: UNI
LM-5.2 V10 Obv: Cap
LM-5.2 V10 Rev: D STATES
LM-9.2 V6 Rev: TED STAT
1836 LM-1.2 V5b Rev: TED STAT
LM-3 V4 Rev: Top of A2
From this list you will note that the 1835 LM-5.2 appears twice, because a reverse cud appears first, and then an obverse cud later appears, the only known example with both an obverse and a reverse cud. So technically this makes a total of just 23 die marriages with cuds, unless we missed some.
My interpretation and your interpretation are both correct, but its the use of each others' phrases that has been misunderstood.
I mentioned just "Bust Half-Dimes", and did not specify just the Capped Bust series as you seem to imply.
But that's alright.
In my comment I was also including the Flowing Hair and Draped Bust examples, of which
below is a list of the 8 that (I) have located (there may be others which I haven't listed):
1794 LM-4
1795 LM-4
1795 LM-6
1795 LM-10
1797 LM-2
1800 LM-1
1801 LM-2
1803 LM-1
This would actually bring the count up to 33; I was not originally counting Cud's formed internally, rather just Rim Cuds.