CU-1C-1964-01 Cud

Description

Cataloged as CU-1C-1964-01, this is the first documented cud variety for the 1964 Philadelphia-minted Lincoln cent from the regular business strike production of 2,648,575,000 coins. A cud is a raised, unstruck area on a coin created when a piece of the die breaks away at the rim and falls out of the press. The missing die segment means that the corresponding area of the planchet receives no design impression during striking, leaving a smooth, rounded blob of metal that protrudes above the coin's normal surface. Cuds always occur at the rim because the die edge is the weakest structural point, where the stress concentrations from repeated striking impacts are greatest and where the die steel has the least supporting material behind it. The enormous 1964 Philadelphia cent production — the largest business strike mintage in Lincoln cent history — pushed dies through extended service lives, increasing the likelihood of die failure at the rim. Each business strike die served approximately 250,000 to 500,000 impressions before retirement, and the accumulated stress from millions of tons of striking force created the conditions for rim fractures. Cross-referenced as CU-1C-1964-01 and attributed by Cuds on Coins. Collectors seeking cud varieties should examine the rims of their coins carefully under magnification, as small cuds can be subtle and easily overlooked in casual inspection. The size, position, and shape of the cud distinguish this variety from any other 1964 cud discoveries. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint on a 95% copper, 5% tin-zinc planchet weighing 3.11 grams at 19mm diameter.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• CU-1C-1964-01
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References