1952 Lincoln Wheat Cent - RCD-1c-1952-05 Retained Cud

Description

Documented by Cuds on Coins with the designation RCD-1c-1952-05 and dated October 26, 2015, this retained cud variety on the 1952 Lincoln Wheat Cent is cross-referenced to RIDB-1952-01 (Retained Interior Die Break). A retained cud differs fundamentally from a standard cud: in a retained cud, the die fragment breaks completely free at the rim but does not fall out, typically held in place by the collar or by the mechanical compression of striking. The result on struck coins is a raised area at the rim that may show its design out of line but keeps it clearly defined, rather than the plain blob characteristic of a cud whose piece has fallen out. The cross-reference notation specifies that white arrows indicate the retained cud while red arrows indicate the retained interior die break, suggesting this die suffered multiple simultaneous fracture events — a rim-level crack producing the retained cud alongside an interior crack producing the RIDB. The 1952 Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in bronze alloy (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) at 3.11 grams and 19.05 mm diameter. Victor David Brenner's obverse portrait and the wheat stalk reverse provide the design context for this variety. Retained cuds are generally considered scarcer than fully separated cuds because the partial retention indicates a narrow window of production between the initial fracture and either full separation or die replacement.

Cross References

• Cross reference: see RIDB-1952-01. NOTE: the retained cud is indicated by white arrows, while the retained interior die break is shown with red arrows. 10/26/2015.

External References