PC-1c-1956-10 Pre-Cud

Description

Sequence number 10 in the 1956 pre-cud catalog maintained by Cuds on Coins, PC-1c-1956-10 preserves a retained die crack at the rim of a 1956 Lincoln Wheat Cent — a crack that halted short of the full fracture and breakaway that defines a complete cud error. In the progression of die failure, pre-cuds occupy the diagnostic middle ground: the die steel has cracked from the rim inward under repeated striking pressure, but the damaged fragment remains in place, transferring a raised hairline crack onto struck coins rather than the featureless raised blob of a full cud. Collectors and die-state researchers value pre-cuds for the window they provide into die degradation mechanics — each is a snapshot of a die on the path toward catastrophic rim failure. The 1956 Philadelphia Mint struck cents in 95% copper with 5% tin and zinc at 3.11 grams. This date falls in the penultimate period of Victor David Brenner's Wheat Ears reverse, which would be replaced by Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse beginning in 1959. The catalog code follows standard format: PC (pre-cud), 1c (denomination), 1956 (year), 10 (sequence). Examine the rim area for the retained crack line that marks this variety.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Louis A
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References