PC-1c-1952-03R Pre-Cud

Description

Third reverse pre-cud documented for the 1952 Lincoln wheat cent, PC-1c-1952-03R was cataloged by the Cuds on Coins attribution service on October 12, 2021. The naming convention follows the standard format: PC for pre-cud, 1c for the one-cent denomination, 1952 for the date, and 03R indicating the third reverse pre-cud identified. Pre-cuds represent the initial stage of rim-area die failure, where a crack has formed in the die steel near the rim — the zone subjected to the highest mechanical stress during each strike — but has not progressed to the point of physically displacing or separating a die fragment. The result on struck coins is a fine raised line or subtle ridge near the rim that traces the path of the underlying crack, substantially less conspicuous than the displaced zones of retained cuds or the raised lumps of full cuds. Philadelphia struck approximately 186.9 million cents in 1952, a production volume that required continuous die rotation and ensured that individual dies accumulated significant striking cycles before retirement. Three documented reverse pre-cuds for the 1952 date indicate that multiple reverse dies began developing rim fractures during the year's production campaign, each at different positions around the die periphery. Victor David Brenner's wheat reverse design — with the paired wheat ears, ONE CENT denomination, and E PLURIBUS UNUM motto — provides the design framework where these pre-cuds manifest as linear traces near the rim. The standard bronze composition (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) used for 1952 cents represents the normal metallurgical environment for wheat cent die performance, distinct from the unusual wartime compositions of 1943-1945. Collectors should examine the reverse rim under 10-15x magnification, looking for fine raised lines that repeat consistently across multiple specimens from the same die.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Pete Apple
• Cross reference: none. 10/12/2021.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References