RCD-1c-1955-15 Retained Cud

Description

Reaching sequence number fifteen, the 1955 Lincoln Wheat Cent RCD-1c-1955-15 demonstrates that die rim failures were a persistent issue during this year's production — fifteen distinct working dies developed retained cuds before being retired. This high count reflects the cumulative toll of sustained high-speed striking on dies designed to impress bronze planchets: each revolution of the coining press applies tremendous force to the die rim, and over hundreds of thousands of strikes, microscopic stress fractures propagate inward until a rim segment partially separates. The retained fragment continues impressing coins with a raised, slightly irregular area — distinguishable from a full cud by the retention of partial design detail where the fragment stays in contact with the die body. Comparing this 15th documented retained cud against the 5th (RCD-1c-1955-05) illustrates how different working dies fracture at different rim locations and angles, each producing a unique retained cud profile. The 1955 Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck in bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) at 3.11 grams at the Philadelphia Mint during the penultimate era of the wheat ears reverse design. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins. Examine the rim for the raised mass at a location distinct from the 1955-05 variety — each die's fracture pattern is individually characteristic.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References