IDB-1c-1956-02 Interior Die Break

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins with a cross-reference to Cohen Index 56-S8, this second documented interior die break on the 1956 Lincoln Wheat Cent records a fracture within the die face that produced a raised, irregular area on struck coins surrounded by normal design detail on all sides. Interior die breaks differ from rim-based cuds in their location: rather than occurring at the die's edge where structural support is weakest, interior breaks develop within the die face itself, where localized stress concentrations or material defects create failure points. When the broken die fragment separates completely, the resulting cavity fills with metal during striking, producing a raised blob on the coin. The Cohen Index 56-S8 cross-reference connects this variety to the Cohen die break classification system, providing a secondary attribution pathway for collectors and researchers. The documentation date of January 20, 2016 records when this variety was formally added to the catalog. The 1956 Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the Philadelphia Mint during the late Wheat Cent era, with only two years of production remaining before the 1959 transition to the Memorial reverse. Victor David Brenner's wheat ears reverse had been in service since 1909, and the die production techniques for this familiar design were thoroughly mature by 1956. Two documented interior die breaks for the 1956-P date suggests that die face failures were occurring alongside the more common rim fractures documented as cuds and retained cuds. Interior die breaks rank among the less frequently encountered die variety types because the die face is generally more robust than the rim area, making each documented example a notable contribution to the overall record of die failure patterns on Wheat Cents.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross references: Cohen Index 56-S8. 01/20/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References