RIDB-1c-1955-02 Cud

Description

While 1955 is overwhelmingly associated with the famous Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001 — arguably the most recognized die variety in American numismatics — this retained interior die break on a 1955 Proof Lincoln Wheat Cent documents an entirely separate category of die error. RIDB-1c-1955-02 records the second interior die fracture for this proof date, where a section within the die field cracked and remained in place rather than separating at the rim. The retained fragment continued to impart its impression during striking, but with slight displacement that produced visible distortion in the affected area. Interior die breaks require a different mechanical failure path than the DDO-001 hub doubling — they result from stress fractures within the die steel itself, not from misalignment during the hubbing process. The 1955 Proof Cent was struck at Philadelphia in a year that would become legendary for die variety collectors, yet the retained interior die breaks from this date remain far less known than their doubled die counterpart. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this variety rewards specialists who look beyond headline varieties to document the full spectrum of die failures.

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