1925 (D) Lincoln Wheat Cent - CU-1C-1925D-02 Cud

Description

Recorded as the second documented cud on the 1925 (D) Lincoln Wheat Cent, CU-1C-1925D-02 joins an earlier variety in establishing that multiple Denver Mint dies failed at the rim during this date's production. Die failure at the rim follows a predictable progression: microscopic fatigue cracks form first, often invisible on struck coins, then propagate with continued use until a segment detaches — transforming a cracked die into a cud die. The coins struck between initial cracking and full separation may show die cracks or retained breaks, but once the piece breaks free, every subsequent strike produces the characteristic raised blob of featureless metal. Collectors sometimes encounter transitional specimens showing both a crack leading to the cud area and the fully developed cud itself, documenting the fracture in progress. The 1925-D Wheat Cent was produced during a decade when Denver's cent output fluctuated year to year, and die attrition rates reflected both production volume and the specific batches of die steel in use. The existence of a second cataloged cud for this date suggests that die endurance was tested during the 1925 Denver production run.

Cross References

• CU-1C-1925D-02

External References