RIDB-1c-1952-02 Retained Interior Die Break

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this retained interior die break on the 1952 Lincoln Wheat Cent from the Philadelphia Mint represents the second documented example for this date. Unlike rim cuds where the fracture reaches the die edge, retained interior die breaks occur entirely within the die face, creating an isolated island of failure surrounded by intact design. The broken fragment stays lodged in the die, producing struck coins that display a raised irregular area with a surrounding recessed channel where metal was forced into the crack boundary. This recessed outline distinguishes retained interior die breaks from simple die chips, which lack the defined border. The 1952 Philadelphia Wheat Cent had substantial mintage, giving dies extended production runs that increased the likelihood of fatigue-related fractures. Lincoln Wheat Cents from the early 1950s were among the final issues of the series before the Memorial reverse replaced it in 1959. Interior die breaks on these late-series cents document the stresses imposed during high-volume production.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References