CU-1C-1981-05R Cud

Description

Bearing the "R" suffix that designates a reverse die break, CU-1C-1981-05R is the fifth cataloged cud for the 1981 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent and specifically documents a fracture on the reverse (Lincoln Memorial) die rather than the obverse portrait die. While obverse cuds obliterate portions of Lincoln's likeness, date, or motto, reverse cuds affect the Memorial building, the legends UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM, or the denomination ONE CENT. The distinction matters for attribution because obverse and reverse dies operate independently — a reverse cud tells us nothing about the condition of the obverse die paired with it, and vice versa. CU-1C-1981-05R was confirmed as a unique die by comparing its reverse break position against all previously cataloged 1981-P cud varieties, including those on the obverse. The 1981 Philadelphia cent was struck from the standard 95% copper composition in the last complete year before the mid-1982 transition to copper-plated zinc. All 1981 Philadelphia cents bear the P mintmark that had appeared on the denomination since 1980. Attribution by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Mike Diamond
• CU-1C-1981-05R
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References