DC-1c-1974D-02 Die Chip

Description

Attributed as DC-1c-1974D-02 by Cuds on Coins, this die chip variety was discovered on 1974 Denver Mint Lincoln Memorial cents. A die chip is a minor die break in which a small fragment of the die's working surface fractures and detaches, leaving a tiny cavity in the die face. When a planchet is struck by the affected die, metal fills the void and produces a small raised bump or blob on the finished coin. Unlike cuds, which involve the die rim and produce large, conspicuous masses of displaced metal, die chips typically affect the interior design elements and manifest as much smaller, more subtle anomalies — though they can occasionally be quite prominent depending on the size and location of the lost fragment. DC-1c-1974D-02 is the second cataloged die chip for the 1974-D date, and no additional cross-reference numbers from other attribution services have been assigned to this variety. The Denver Mint's extraordinary 1974 production volume of approximately 4.24 billion cents created conditions favorable for all manner of die deterioration, from hairline cracks and flow lines to interior breaks and rim cuds. Die chips represent an intermediate failure mode: less dramatic than a full cud but more significant than ordinary die wear, and they create distinctive diagnostic features that allow collectors to attribute a specimen to a specific die. The location of the chip on the design — whether it appears on a letter, a design element, or in the field — determines both its visual impact and its desirability to error specialists. Collectors should examine candidate specimens under magnification, looking for the telltale raised bump in the position documented by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Claude Butcher
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References