RCD-1c-1925S-02R Retained Cud

Description

Unlike a conventional cud where the fractured rim section separates from the die entirely, this 1925 San Francisco Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent exhibits a retained cud — a variety where the broken die fragment remains partially attached, held in place by the surrounding die structure. Cataloged as RCD-1c-1925S-02R by Cuds on Coins, the "02R" designation indicates this is the second documented retained cud on the reverse for the 1925-S date. The cross-reference history reveals an interesting evolution: originally documented with no known cross-references on September 1, 2013, the variety was later linked to DDO-001 (described as "black arrow") on May 27, 2022, indicating that the obverse die used in this pairing also carries a doubled die designation. Retained cuds are mechanically fascinating because the broken die section flexes slightly with each strike, producing a characteristic slightly depressed or raised area adjacent to the rim that differs from the fully detached void of a standard cud. The 1925-S Lincoln Wheat Cent had a mintage of approximately 26.38 million pieces — a modest output from the San Francisco Mint that makes any die variety from this date somewhat scarcer in absolute population than comparable varieties on high-mintage Philadelphia dates. The San Francisco Mint's role during the 1920s was primarily supporting Western commerce with circulation-quality coinage, and its dies experienced the normal range of fatigue failures that produce cuds, retained cuds, and die cracks.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Keith Christenson
• Cross reference number: none. 09/01/2013. Cross reference number: DDO-001 “black arrow”. 05/27/2022.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References