CU-5c-1964D-02R Cud

Description

Cataloged by the Cuds on Coins project, CU-5c-1964D-02R records a major die break on the reverse of a 1964-D Jefferson Nickel where a segment of the die rim fractured and separated, leaving a raised, featureless blob of metal at the coin's edge. Unlike hairline die cracks that produce thin raised lines, a cud represents catastrophic structural failure of the die steel — the broken fragment falls away entirely, and the resulting void in the die face fills with metal during striking, producing the characteristic raised lump with no design detail. The reverse position (indicated by the "R" suffix in the catalog number) places this break on the Monticello side of the coin, where Felix Schlag's architectural rendering of Jefferson's estate provides the surrounding design context. The 1964-D Jefferson Nickel holds particular significance in the series as the final year of the original reverse design before the Westward Journey redesigns decades later, and Denver's massive 1964 mintage — driven by the coin shortage crisis that prompted elimination of silver from dimes and quarters — means the mint operated at extraordinary production volumes, subjecting dies to intense usage that accelerated fatigue fractures. No cross-references to other cataloging systems have been established for this variety. The absence of documented die markers beyond the cud itself is typical for Cuds on Coins entries, where the major break serves as its own primary diagnostic. Collectors seeking this variety should examine the reverse rim carefully, looking for the raised metal mass that distinguishes a true cud from lesser die cracks or die chips.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Joey G
• Cross reference number: none. 06/07/2018.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References