1945 Lincoln Wheat Cent - CU-1C-1945-08R Cud

Description

With over 1.04 billion cents struck at Philadelphia in 1945, the Mint cycled through an enormous number of die pairs, and statistical probability alone ensures that a significant fraction of those dies experienced rim fractures during their service life. The copper-zinc alloy adopted in 1944 after the 1943 steel cent interlude was kinder to dies than steel, but no die is immune to fatigue failure when subjected to the hundreds of thousands of high-tonnage impacts required to produce coins at industrial scale. CU-1C-1945-08R is cataloged by Cuds on Coins within the Lincoln Wheat Cents series, and the "08R" designation specifies the eighth reverse cud documented for this date. Each cud variety is unique because the fracture occurs at a specific, unrepeatable point along the rim: the exact position, the arc of the break, and the size of the separated fragment all differ from one cud to the next. The 1945 date also holds historical significance as the year World War II ended, and Wheat Cents from this final war year are widely collected both for their historical resonance and their availability in quantity due to the massive mintage figures.

Cross References

• CU-1C-1945-08R

External References