RIDB-1c-1955S-02 Retained Interior Die Break

Description

Representing the final year that the San Francisco Mint produced Lincoln Cents for general circulation, the 1955-S Wheat Cent that carries RIDB-1c-1955S-02 documents a die fracture where the broken fragment stayed in place rather than separating. A retained interior die break preserves the fractured section within the die's working face — away from the rim, unlike a cud — producing a raised but cracked area on the struck coin that retains distorted design detail. Cross-referenced as Cohen 55S-BA105 and Hardy 55S-4BL+2, this variety benefits from dual classification in two major reference systems. San Francisco ceased cent production for circulation after 1955, not resuming until 1968 when S-mint cents appeared exclusively in proof sets. This makes 1955-S the terminal San Francisco business strike Lincoln Cent of the Wheat Ears era, lending added numismatic significance to die varieties from the date. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, RIDB-1c-1955S-02 documents interior die stress on one of the last coins to roll off San Francisco's cent production lines before the facility shifted its focus entirely to proof and collector coinage.

Attribution History

• Cross references: Cohen 55S-BA105, Hardy 55S-4BL+2 and RIDB-1c-1955S-02. 04/18/2018.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References