CU-5c-1978D-02 Cud

Description

Documented as the second rim cud for the 1978-D Jefferson nickel, CU-5c-1978D-02 carries the cross-reference JNC-78D-1 in the Jefferson nickel cud catalog. The Denver Mint produced 313.1 million Jefferson nickels in 1978, struck in the standard cupro-nickel composition on 21.2mm planchets weighing 5.0 grams. The late 1970s represented a period of sustained high production across all denominations as inflationary pressures increased the quantity of coins needed for everyday transactions. Die rim failures producing cuds remained an ongoing quality control issue despite improvements in die steel metallurgy and chrome plating techniques introduced during the preceding decade. The cross-reference JNC-78D-1 indicates this variety was documented early in the Jefferson nickel cud reference system's development for the 1978-D date, providing an alternative identification pathway for collectors who access different catalogs. Felix Schlag's Monticello reverse design, approaching its fortieth anniversary in 1978, had become one of the most familiar images in American pocket change, and die breaks affecting the intricate architectural details or the surrounding legends UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and FIVE CENTS could produce visually dramatic cuds. Rim cuds on nickels are generally less common in the numismatic marketplace than those on cents, partly because nickel production runs are typically smaller than cent runs and partly because fewer variety collectors systematically search nickel rolls compared to cent rolls. This relative scarcity makes documented nickel cuds like CU-5c-1978D-02 noteworthy additions to any die break collection, particularly for collectors building a comprehensive Jefferson nickel error census.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Heritage Auction
• Cross reference number: JNC-78D-1
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References