RIDB-1c-1949D-01 Retained Interior Die Break

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this first documented retained interior die break on the 1949 Denver Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent records a fracture within the die face where the broken piece remained attached during subsequent striking operations. Unlike rim-based cuds and retained cuds that involve fractures at the die's edge, an interior die break occurs entirely within the die face — away from the rim — producing a raised, distorted area surrounded by normal design elements on all sides. When the broken piece stays in place rather than falling out, the result is a "retained" interior break: the struck coin shows a raised irregular area with disrupted but partially preserved design detail, often bordered by visible crack lines marking the fracture boundaries. The 1949-D Lincoln Wheat Cent was produced during the post-war period when Denver Mint cent production was scaling back from wartime peaks but still running at substantial volumes. Victor David Brenner's obverse portrait and wheat ears reverse had been in continuous use since 1909, and the die production process for this long-running design was thoroughly standardized by the late 1940s. Interior die breaks are less common than rim fractures because the die face is generally thicker and better supported than the rim area, making internal failures noteworthy when they do occur. No cross-references to other attribution systems have been established for this variety, making the Cuds on Coins catalog the primary documentation source. Collectors seeking die break varieties on Wheat Cents will find the 1949-D date an accessible entry point given its reasonable mintage and availability.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Tracy Crawford
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References