CU-50c-1984P-01 Rim Cud

Description

First documented rim cud for the 1984 Philadelphia Mint Kennedy Half Dollar, CU-50c-1984P-01 records a major die break at the die rim that left a raised, featureless blob of metal on every coin subsequently struck from the damaged die. As the -01 designation indicates, this was the first cud cataloged for the 1984-P half dollar, with a second (CU-50c-1984P-02) subsequently documented from a different working die. Together they constitute a two-cud population for a single date-mintmark, providing evidence that rim fracture was not an isolated event in the 1984 Philadelphia half dollar production. Die rim fractures occur when the accumulated stress of repeated striking cycles — each one delivering tons of force to the die face — exceeds the fatigue strength of the die steel at the vulnerable rim junction. The Philadelphia Mint's 1984 half dollar production was relatively limited in total output, as the denomination continued to occupy a primarily numismatic role in U.S. commerce, with most examples entering circulation through Mint sets, rolls sold directly to collectors, and casino gaming channels. The Cuds on Coins catalog records no additional cross-references. At 30.61mm in diameter and 11.34 grams in copper-nickel clad composition (91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel over pure copper), the Kennedy Half Dollar represents the largest regularly struck U.S. circulating coin, and its substantial die area means rim fractures can occur at various clock positions around the entire 360-degree periphery. Identifying the specific clock position of CU-50c-1984P-01's cud relative to the -02 variety helps establish that different dies — and likely different positions within the die rim — experienced the fracture events.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Mark Cannizzaro
• CU-50c-1984P-01; none.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References