RIDB-1c-1960-06(LD) (LD) Retained Interior Die Break

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins as RIDB-1c-1960-06(LD) with a cross-reference date of January 17, 2018, this retained interior die break on the 1960 Lincoln Memorial Cent Large Date documents a characteristic mid-die failure from the Philadelphia Mint's first production phase of that year. A retained interior die break occurs when a section of the die face fractures internally — away from the rim — but the broken fragment does not fully separate. Instead, it remains loosely seated in its original position, shifting slightly under striking pressure and imparting a localized area of raised, distorted metal onto every coin produced from the compromised die. The resulting anomaly appears as an irregular, slightly elevated patch within the design field, distinct from the sharply defined devices surrounding it. Because the fragment has not yet detached, the affected area retains partial design detail rather than the blank, featureless mass that would characterize a full cud. The Large Date regular strike designation confirms this die served during Philadelphia's initial 1960 cent production before the mid-year hub transition to the Small Date design. As an intermediate stage of die deterioration, this retained break captures a fleeting moment in the working life of a die — one that would eventually progress toward complete fragment loss had the die not been retired first.

Attribution History

• Cross reference number: RIDB-1c-1960-06(LD). 01/17/2018.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References