CU-5c-1960D-03 Cud

Description

Third in the Cuds on Coins catalog for the 1960 Denver Mint Jefferson Nickel, CU-5c-1960D-03 records a rim die break from an era when Denver was producing hundreds of millions of nickels annually to meet surging circulation demand. The late 1950s and early 1960s saw a national coin shortage developing — one that would eventually lead to the elimination of silver from dimes and quarters in 1965 — and the Denver Mint's aggressive production schedules placed enormous demands on die steel. Each die pair was pushed to maximum output, increasing the likelihood of rim fractures that produce cuds. A cud forms when a section of the die rim separates completely, and the resulting void fills with metal during striking to create a raised featureless blob at the coin's edge. Felix Schlag's Jefferson portrait and Monticello reverse were well established by 1960, having been in continuous production for twenty-two years. Three documented cuds for a single date and mint reflects the volume-driven die consumption characteristic of this period. The variety belongs to the Jefferson Nickels Original Design 1938-2003 series.

Attribution History

• Discovered by David Harrison
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References