RIDB-1c-1955-17 Cud

Description

Seventeenth documented cud on a 1955 Proof Lincoln Wheat Cent, RIDB-1c-1955-17 records a major die break where a section of the die rim fractured and separated, leaving a cavity that filled with metal during striking to produce a raised, featureless blob at the coin's edge. Cuds represent one of the most visually dramatic forms of die failure — unlike subtle doubled dies or repunched mintmarks that require magnification to confirm, a cud is immediately visible to the unaided eye as an amorphous raised mass that obliterates the design in its vicinity. The 1955 Proof cent was produced exclusively at the Philadelphia Mint, where proof coins were struck on specially prepared planchets using polished dies to achieve mirror-like surfaces and sharp design detail. Finding seventeen documented cuds on proof cents from a single year is remarkable, as proof production runs were small compared to business strikes and proof dies were typically retired before reaching the advanced stages of deterioration that lead to rim failure. However, proof dies endure extreme pressures — often requiring multiple impressions per coin — which can accelerate rim cracking despite shorter production runs. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this variety expands an already substantial registry of Philadelphia Mint proof die failures from a year most famous for the legendary 1955 Doubled Die Obverse. Proof Wheat Cent cuds from the mid-1950s occupy an unusual niche where dramatic visual appeal intersects with low-mintage proof scarcity.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Pete Apple
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References