CU-50c-1776/1976-04R Cud

Description

Documented by the Cuds on Coins attribution service, this retained interior die break — commonly called a cud — appears on the reverse of a 1976-P Bicentennial Kennedy half dollar. The catalog designation CU-50c-1776/1976-04R follows the standardized cud naming convention: CU for cud, 50c for the half dollar denomination, 1776/1976 for the Bicentennial dual date, and 04R indicating the fourth cataloged reverse cud for this issue. Cross-referenced as KHDC-76-1R in the Kennedy Half Dollar Cud system, this variety was struck at the Philadelphia Mint during the massive Bicentennial coinage production program. Seth Huntington's Independence Hall reverse design, selected through a national design competition to mark America's 200th anniversary, provides the canvas for this die break. Cuds form when a piece of the die's rim or interior breaks away, leaving a void that fills with metal during striking — the result is a raised, featureless blob on the struck coin where the missing die fragment no longer impresses the design. Heritage Auction contributed the reference image for this variety, adding professional documentation to the catalog entry. The Bicentennial half dollar was produced in enormous quantities at both Philadelphia and Denver, with the dual date 1776-1976 replacing the standard single date throughout 1975 and 1976. Despite the high total mintage, individual die breaks are unique events tied to specific working dies, making documented cuds collectible varieties regardless of the overall production volume. The 04R designation indicates at least three other reverse cuds have been cataloged for the Bicentennial half dollar, reflecting the large number of dies consumed during the extended production run.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Heritage Auction
• CU-50c-1776/1976-04R; number: KHDC-76-1R.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References