CU-1C-1943S-03R Cud

Description

Third reverse cud on a 1943 San Francisco Mint Lincoln Cent, this die break carries special significance because the 1943 cent was struck in zinc-coated steel rather than the traditional bronze composition — one of the most dramatic material changes in U.S. coining history. The switch to steel planchets was necessitated by World War II's demand for copper in ammunition production, and the unfamiliar properties of steel presented new challenges for die longevity. Steel planchets are harder than bronze, potentially accelerating die wear and rim stress, which may have contributed to die rim failures. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins with the cross-reference CU-1C-1943S-03R, this cud formed when a section of the reverse die rim fractured completely, leaving a cavity that filled with zinc-coated steel during striking to produce the characteristic raised blob. San Francisco's 1943 cent production supplemented the larger Philadelphia and Denver outputs during wartime, and the S mintmark adds collectibility to any error from this date. Three documented reverse cuds from the 1943-S steel cent suggest that the harder planchet material indeed placed greater stress on die rims, though definitive statistical comparison would require controlling for production volume differences. The steel cent remains one of the most recognizable wartime numismatic artifacts, and die errors from this composition change year attract dedicated collector interest.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Mark Adamson
• CU-1C-1943S-03R
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References