CU-50c-1971D-05 Rim Cud

Description

Recorded as the fifth documented rim cud on the 1971-D Kennedy half dollar, CU-50c-1971D-05 preserves evidence of a die break where a section of the die adjacent to the rim fractured and separated during production at the Denver Mint. A rim cud forms when metal flows into the void left by the missing die fragment, creating a raised, featureless mass along the coin's edge that obliterates the design in the affected area. The 1971-D holds particular significance as the first year of the copper-nickel clad Kennedy half dollar for general circulation, following the transition from the 40% silver composition used from 1965 through 1970. Cuds on half dollars tend to be visually striking due to the coin's larger 30.6mm diameter, which provides more rim surface area where die breaks can develop. The size and position of each cud relative to surrounding design elements and lettering differentiate it from other documented breaks on the same date and mintmark. Collectors cataloging Kennedy half dollar die breaks use the CU designation system to track the expanding inventory of documented cud positions across the full span of the series.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Geoffrey Noe
• CU-50c-1971D-05; number: none. 03/01/2018.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References