CU-50c-1954-01 Cud

Description

The first documented cud variety for the 1954 Franklin Half Dollar, this die error records a rim fracture on John R. Sinnock's beloved mid-century design featuring Benjamin Franklin on the obverse and the Liberty Bell on the reverse. A cud forms when a portion of the die rim breaks away entirely, leaving a cavity that fills with metal during striking to produce a raised, featureless mass along the coin's edge. Franklin Half Dollars were minted from 1948 through 1963, and the 1954 Philadelphia issue falls squarely in the middle of the series run. The half dollar denomination subjected dies to considerable striking pressure — at fifty cents, these were among the largest circulating silver coins of the era — making rim fractures a persistent hazard across the production life of each die. Cataloged as CU-50c-1954-01 by Cuds on Coins, the "50c" in the catalog code designates the half dollar denomination while "01" confirms this as the first cud variety documented for the 1954 date. Collectors of Franklin Half Dollar errors prize cuds for their dramatic visual impact, as the featureless blob contrasts starkly with Sinnock's finely detailed portrait and bell designs.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Dan Hemperly
• CU-50c-1954-01; none.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References