CU-50c-1954D-01R Cud

Description

Denver Mint production of Franklin Half Dollars in 1954 yielded this reverse cud — the first documented for the date and mint combination — cataloged as CU-50c-1954D-01R by Cuds on Coins. John R. Sinnock's Franklin Half Dollar design features Benjamin Franklin's portrait on the obverse and the Liberty Bell on the reverse, where a small eagle appears to the right of the bell to satisfy the legal requirement for eagle imagery on half dollars. The "R" suffix confirms the die break occurred on the reverse die, meaning the raised featureless cud mass appears on the Liberty Bell side of the coin. Franklin Half Dollars (1948-1963) occupy an interesting niche in mid-century U.S. coinage — they were the last circulating silver half dollars before the Kennedy design replaced them in 1964, and their 90% silver composition means surviving specimens rarely exhibit the heavy wear seen on clad coins. Die varieties on Franklin Halves receive attention from both variety specialists and silver-era collectors. The 1954-D is a common date in the series, but cud errors add a dimension of scarcity that transcends base mintage numbers.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• CU-50c-1954D-01R; none. 07/23/2018.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References