RCD-1c-1952-07R Retained Cud

Description

Seventh in the retained cud census for the 1952 Lincoln wheat cent, the RCD-1c-1952-07R was entered into the Cuds on Coins database on January 20, 2022. A retained cud occurs when a section of the die rim fractures but the broken piece remains in approximate position rather than separating completely, producing a raised displaced area on struck coins that shows partial design detail shifted from proper alignment. Philadelphia struck approximately 186.9 million cents in 1952, a solid postwar production volume that sustained intensive die usage. The 07R designation as the seventh retained cud for this date indicates a moderate concentration of die rim failures — higher than many individual wheat cent dates but well below the extraordinary numbers cataloged for the 1943 wartime steel cent. Victor David Brenner's wheat cent design was in its 44th year of production in 1952, with the working die fabrication process refined through decades of experience, yet rim fractures continued to occur as an inherent consequence of the cyclic mechanical stresses imposed during high-speed coining. No cross-references from other attribution services have been established for this variety. The retained cud diagnostic relies on identifying a raised zone along the rim that exhibits three key characteristics: a traceable fracture boundary line marking the edge of the displaced segment, partial design detail within the affected area that has shifted from its proper position, and a systematic displacement pattern consistent with mechanical die failure rather than the random irregular surfaces produced by post-strike damage. Collectors examining late-era wheat cents for retained cuds benefit from the generally better preservation of these dates compared to earlier issues, as many specimens survived in uncirculated or lightly circulated condition through bank rolls and collector accumulation.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Marvin L
• Cross reference: none. 01/20/2022.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References