CU-1C-1980-15 Cud

Description

Among the higher-numbered entries in the 1980 Philadelphia cud census, CU-1C-1980-15 reflects the remarkable depth of die failure documentation that Cuds on Coins has assembled for this date. Fifteenth in the sequence, this variety represents a die whose rim integrity failed under the repeated compressive forces of high-volume striking. The physics of cud formation involve metal fatigue — each impact cycle propagates microscopic cracks through the hardened die steel until a critical threshold is reached and a rim segment separates entirely. The resulting raised area on struck coins is devoid of design detail because there is no longer any die surface to impress the planchet in that zone. For the 1980 Philadelphia cent, the large number of documented cuds suggests that many dies were pushed to or beyond their intended service life, a common scenario during years of heavy demand for circulating coinage. CU-1C-1980-15 is confirmed as distinct from all preceding entries through its unique fracture geometry. Struck from 95% copper planchets with the P mintmark that debuted on the cent in 1980. Attribution by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• CU-1C-1980-15
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References