1969 (D) Lincoln Memorial Cent - PC-1c-1969D-02 Pre-Cud

Description

Cataloged as PC-1c-1969D-02 by Cuds on Coins and first documented on August 10, 2022, this pre-cud variety on the 1969-D Lincoln Memorial cent captures a die at a critical stage between normal service and possible catastrophic failure. A pre-cud represents a possible late chapter in a die's life: a crack has propagated from an interior stress point to the rim, fully outlining a fragment that could one day separate, but the fragment is still part of the die, unmoved and functional. Coins struck from a die in this condition display a raised line tracing the crack path — metal flows into the crack under striking pressure, producing a fine ridge on the finished coin — without the featureless blob that characterizes a true cud. The distinction between a pre-cud and a retained cud lies in the integrity of the fragment: in a pre-cud the fragment is still part of the die and firmly seated, while in a retained cud it has broken free and moves under each strike. No cross-references to other attribution services have been established for this variety, making the Cuds on Coins listing the sole published catalog entry. Denver's 1969 production placed enormous demand on die inventories during the mint's first full year back in operation with mint marks following the 1965-67 suspension, and dies that survived to the pre-cud stage document the extreme service life expected of each die pair.

Cross References

• Cross reference: none. 08/10/2022.

External References