PC-1c-1972D-05R Pre-Cud

Description

Fifth reverse pre-cud documented for the 1972-D Lincoln Memorial cent, PC-1c-1972D-05R records another instance of a Denver Mint reverse die approaching terminal failure — its rim fractured deeply enough to leave unmistakable evidence on struck coins while the dying fragment maintained just enough structural connection to remain seated in the die body. The Cuds on Coins attribution team cataloged this variety without establishing external cross-references. As a pre-cud, this variety occupies the narrow window between advanced die cracking and outright cud formation — a window that may span hundreds or thousands of strikes depending on the specific metallurgical conditions within the fracture zone. Factors influencing how quickly a pre-cud progresses to a full cud include the grain structure of the die steel at the fracture site, the striking pressure employed, the rate of production (which determines how much heat accumulates in the die), and whether the crack propagates through a region of residual stress from the die manufacturing process. On the struck coin, PC-1c-1972D-05R would present as a substantial raised die crack at the reverse rim, potentially with subtle displacement evidence along the crack margins — a ghost of the flat, featureless plateau that would eventually replace it once separation occurred. The five reverse pre-cuds documented for the 1972-D cent, combined with multiple full cud varieties, paint a comprehensive picture of how Denver Mint reverse dies deteriorated under the extreme production demands of this high-mintage year.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Robert Oney
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References