CU-5c-1970D-03 Cud

Description

Documented by Cuds on Coins and cross-referenced as JNC-70D-3 (Jefferson Nickel Cud catalog), CU-5c-1970D-03 is a cud error discovered on the 1970 Denver Jefferson Nickel. A significant catalog note explains that the upper cud is designated as 03 while a lower cud on the same die is cataloged as 04, meaning this single working die developed two separate rim breaks at different positions — an occurrence that indicates advanced die failure across multiple stress points. The JNC-70D-3 cross-reference connects this variety to an independent Jefferson Nickel cud reference system, providing dual-catalog documentation. Having two rim cuds on the same die is relatively uncommon and suggests the die experienced severe stress or metallurgical weakness that led to fracturing at more than one location around the rim. The upper and lower designations indicate these breaks are on opposite or significantly separated portions of the rim, creating a coin that displays two raised, featureless blobs rather than the single cud found on most die-break varieties. The 1970-D Jefferson Nickel was struck at the Denver Mint in standard copper-nickel composition (75% copper, 25% nickel, 5.000 grams, 21.2 mm diameter). Felix Schlag's obverse portrait of Thomas Jefferson and Monticello reverse have defined the nickel since 1938. The 1970 Denver nickel had a mintage of approximately 515 million pieces, and the die that produced these dual cuds would have created an identifiable population of double-cud specimens during its service life until the damage became severe enough to warrant die replacement.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Fred Weinberg
• The upper cud is 03; the lower cud is 04. Cross reference number: JNC-70D-3
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References