1960 (D) Jefferson Nickel - CU-5C-1960D-14 Cud

Description

Fourteenth cataloged cud for the 1960 Denver Mint Jefferson Nickel, CU-5C-1960D-14 records yet another rim die break from a date that ranks among the most prolific for nickel cud varieties. Denver produced over 192 million nickels in 1960, requiring hundreds of working dies that each endured millions of high-pressure strikes against the tough copper-nickel alloy. Cuds originate when a section of the die rim fractures completely and separates from the die body, leaving a cavity that fills with metal under striking pressure to produce a raised featureless mass at the coin's edge. Fourteen documented cuds from a single date and mint speaks to both the volume of production and the mechanical stresses inherent in striking five-cent pieces, whose harder composition accelerates die wear compared to softer copper cents. Felix Schlag's left-facing portrait of Thomas Jefferson and his Monticello reverse had been the standard nickel design since 1938, and by 1960 the Mint's production processes were well established but still subject to the metallurgical realities of die failure. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins under the systematic designation CU-5C-1960D-14, collectors seeking this variety should examine the rim carefully for the characteristic blob of raised metal that distinguishes a true cud from lesser die cracks.

Cross References

• CU-5C-1960D-14

External References