1831 LM-1.3 Half Dime with full cud. Very late die state.

dpvilla

1831 LM-1.3 Half Dime
Has anyone seen this very late die state with full cud?
I've seen quite a few with the retained cud, but this is the first I have come across in this very late die state.

MedalCollector

How would one make the distiction, considering the heavy wear?

MrHalfDime

GoldenEgg's comment regarding the difficulty in distinguishing between a 'full cud' and a 'retained cud' with such a worn specimen is worthy of consideration. It has been my experience in collecting cud examples of Capped Bust half dimes for many years that well circulated, low grade specimens with much wear often give the mistaken impression that the area defined by the cud is a 'full cud', meaning that this part of the die completely broke away, since no design devices or letters can be seen. But when we recall that, by definition, the area defined by the cud is typically raised , or in relief on the struck coin with respect to the surrounding elements of the die, design elements may well be there, but have worn away through circulation. In my reference collection I have fourteen (14) examples of the 1831 LM-1/V6 half dime, with five (5) examples exhibiting the cud (LM-1.3/V6c). All of these exhibit a retained cud, with the highest grade examples (AU-58 and AU-50) showing obvious but faint evidence of the letters NIT and the dentils, while the lower grade examples (VF and F) make the design elements difficult to impossible to see. But the latest die state I own or have ever seen is decidedly a 'retained cud'; the broken piece of the die is still retained by the collar. I am not aware of any 'full cud' examples of this die marriage.

WDP

@MrHalfDime, that's using your extensive Capped Bust Half Dime "Reference Collection" and knowledge gained over the years from collecting and studying the half dimes! Who else would have 14 1831 LM-1, V-6 half dimes in different grades and die states!!!

And you gotta love late die states and cuds! I sure do.