CU-1C-1987-05 Cud

Description

Designated CU-1C-1987-05 by Cuds on Coins, this variety is the fifth cataloged cud from the 1987 Lincoln Memorial cent production. The accumulation of five or more cud varieties from a single date-mint combination is noteworthy but not unusual for high-mintage Lincoln cents, where the sheer number of dies consumed during production increases the statistical probability of capturing catastrophic die failures. Each die used at the Philadelphia Mint in 1987 struck an estimated portion of the 4,682,466,931-coin total before being retired due to wear, damage, or structural failure, and cuds represent the most dramatic category of failure — a complete loss of die integrity at the rim. The mechanics of cud formation follow a predictable sequence: thermal cycling and mechanical stress initiate fatigue cracks in the die steel, these cracks propagate with each striking cycle, and eventually a section of the die rim separates. If the broken fragment falls clear of the press, subsequent strikes fill the void with unshaped metal; if it remains loosely in place, the result is instead classified as a retained cud. Understanding this progression helps collectors appreciate that cuds are not random events but the culmination of measurable physical processes. Struck at Philadelphia on copper-plated zinc planchets (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) at 2.5 grams and 19mm.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Steve Young & JC Stevens
• CU-1C-1987-05
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References