CU-1C-1987-04 Cud

Description

Carrying the CU-1C-1987-04 designation in the Cuds on Coins reference, this fourth cud variety on the 1987 Lincoln Memorial cent exemplifies why the Lincoln cent series dominates the cud error landscape. Several factors converge to make cents the most cud-prone denomination: their enormous annual mintages push dies through billions of striking cycles, the relatively small die face concentrates stress in a compact area, and the copper-plated zinc composition used since 1982 creates a harder planchet surface that accelerates die wear compared to the earlier 95% copper alloy. The transition to zinc-core planchets in 1982 introduced a harder striking surface that placed additional demands on die steel, and by 1987 the Mint had five years of experience with the new composition but was simultaneously ramping production volumes to record levels. Cuds on cents from this period are therefore both relatively common — a function of the enormous number of dies consumed — and individually distinctive, since each documents a unique fracture event in a specific die. For collectors, cuds offer an accessible entry point into error coin collecting: their visual drama requires no specialized knowledge to appreciate, yet the systematic cataloging by organizations like Cuds on Coins provides depth for those who wish to study die failure patterns. Struck at Philadelphia on copper-plated zinc planchets (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) at 2.5 grams and 19mm, from the 1987 mintage of 4,682,466,931 cents.

Attribution History

• Discovered by David Elliot
• CU-1C-1987-04
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References