RCD-1c-2023-01R Retained Cud

Description

Cataloged by the Cuds on Coins reference with a documentation date of June 5, 2024, the RCD-1c-2023-01R is a retained cud variety found on a 2023 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Shield Cent. A retained cud differs from a standard cud in that the fractured piece of the die remains partially attached rather than falling away completely — resulting in a raised area on the struck coin that retains some design detail and visible crack lines rather than presenting the completely featureless blob characteristic of a full cud where the die fragment has separated entirely. The cross-reference notation refers to LC File numbers from the Thurman and Margolis Cud Book, a foundational reference work in the specialized field of cud and die break collecting that provides a systematic filing system for cataloging these varieties across all U.S. denominations. No additional external cross-references are currently known. The Lincoln Shield Cent in 2023 was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in copper-plated zinc (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) weighing 2.5 grams with a diameter of 19.05 mm. The Shield reverse, designed by Lyndall Bass, features thirteen vertical stripes representing the original colonies beneath a horizontal scroll bearing ONE CENT. Victor David Brenner's obverse Lincoln portrait has been in continuous use since 1909. As a 2023 issue, this retained cud on a modern cent demonstrates that die failure events continue to occur in contemporary high-speed Mint production despite advances in die steel metallurgy and quality control, and the retained nature of the break provides collectors with a variety that preserves visible evidence of the die fracture mechanics involved.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Matthew Vallee
• Cross reference: None. 06/05/2024
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References