RIDB-1c-1955-03 Cud

Description

Third documented cud on a 1955 Proof Lincoln Wheat Cent, RIDB-1c-1955-03 captures a major die break at the rim where a section of the die fractured and separated, leaving a cavity that produced a raised, featureless mass on the struck coin. As one of the earlier entries in the 1955 proof cud catalog, the -03 designation places this among the first varieties documented for the date, likely representing one of the more visually prominent or easily identified cuds. The 1955 Proof Wheat Cent was manufactured at the Philadelphia Mint using polished dies and specially selected planchets, and the proof striking process — which often employed multiple impressions at high pressure to achieve the crisp detail and mirror-like fields characteristic of proof coinage — placed exceptional demands on die rims. A cud on a proof coin creates a particularly striking visual contrast: the amorphous raised blob stands out sharply against the surrounding mirror-finish fields and frosted design elements that define the proof aesthetic. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this third entry launched what would become an extensive series of cud discoveries on 1955 proof cents, eventually reaching at least seventeen documented varieties. The 1955 date's outsized reputation in Lincoln Cent collecting — anchored by the famous 1955 Doubled Die Obverse — has ensured that surviving proof sets from the year receive extraordinarily thorough examination, revealing die failures that might pass unnoticed on less scrutinized dates. Proof cuds from the 1950s occupy an appealing niche where dramatic visual impact meets the relative scarcity inherent in proof-only production.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References