RIDB-1c-1952-03 Cud

Description

Struck from proof dies at the Philadelphia Mint, this 1952 proof Lincoln wheat cent bears a retained interior die break manifesting as a cud, cataloged under the designation RIDB-1c-1952-03 by Cuds on Coins. The cross-reference number "none" was assigned on 09/28/2021, indicating no matching entries in other attribution systems at that time. Proof coins from 1952 were individually struck on specially prepared planchets with polished dies, a controlled process that makes die break errors on proofs considerably scarcer than on business strikes. The Philadelphia Mint produced 81,980 proof sets in 1952, a modest quantity by later standards but typical for the early 1950s when proof set collecting was still a relatively niche pursuit. Each proof set contained the cent, nickel, dime, quarter, and half dollar, meaning the maximum possible population for any single proof die error is constrained to a fraction of that 81,980 figure. Victor David Brenner's wheat ears reverse, in continuous use since 1909, was entering its final years by 1952 -- the design would be replaced by Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse in 1959. The combination of proof-only production, low set mintage, and a die failure event makes RIDB-1c-1952-03 a notable entry in the proof wheat cent error census. Collectors of proof errors should examine the cud area for the characteristic mirror-finish background that confirms proof origin, as opposed to business-strike surfaces that would indicate a different attribution.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Greg Bowyer
• Cross reference number: none. 09/28/2021.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References