CU-5c-1970D-06 Cud

Description

Sixth in the documented cud census for the 1970-D Jefferson nickel, CU-5c-1970D-06 records yet another instance of die rim failure at the Denver Mint during a year of prodigious five-cent piece production. Cross-referenced as JNC-70D-11 in the Jefferson Nickel Cuds registry, this variety has been independently verified within that parallel cataloging framework, strengthening the attribution. The Denver Mint struck 515.5 million nickels in 1970, a volume that placed enormous demands on die inventories and inevitably accelerated wear at the vulnerable rim zones where the die face transitions to the collar contact area. Cuds on Jefferson nickels from the late 1960s and early 1970s are well represented in the census because this era combined high production volumes with the compositional challenges of striking copper-nickel alloy planchets, which are harder than silver and impose greater mechanical stress on dies. Felix Schlag's original left-facing Jefferson portrait, in continuous use since 1938, was still the active obverse design in 1970, paired with the step-detail Monticello reverse that would remain largely unchanged until the 2004-2005 Westward Journey redesign. Each cud on a Jefferson nickel tells a story of die fatigue: the rim section that fractured, the number of coins struck before and after the break was detected, and the position of the cud relative to the design all contribute to the variety's collectibility. With six documented cuds for the 1970-D issue alone, this date stands as one of the more prolific nickel cud producers of its decade.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Fred Weinberg
• Cross reference number: JNC-70D-11
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References