CU-1C-1946D-05 Cud

Description

Fifth cataloged cud for the 1946 Denver Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent, CU-1C-1946D-05 documents a rim fracture that occurred during the first full year of post-World War II cent production. The 1946-D cent marked a return to peacetime normalcy after the extraordinary wartime compositional experiments — the 1943 steel cents and 1944-1945 shell casing brass cents — and the standard 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc composition was fully restored. Denver struck approximately 315.69 million cents in 1946, a robust output reflecting pent-up demand for coinage after years of wartime disruption. Cross-referenced as CU-1C-1946D-05 by Cuds on Coins, this variety formed when a section of the die rim fractured completely, detaching from the die body and creating a void that filled with bronze under striking pressure. The raised featureless mass that appears on each subsequently struck coin preserves the outline and position of the lost die fragment. Cud die breaks on mid-1940s Lincoln Cents are not uncommon, as the Mint was ramping up production to meet civilian demand while potentially using die steel that had been stockpiled or manufactured during the wartime period when material quality controls may have been affected by strategic metal priorities. Die break collectors seeking 1946-D cuds should examine the rim carefully for the characteristic raised blob that distinguishes a true cud from lesser rim cracks or die deterioration.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• CU-1C-1946D-05
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References