CU-1C-1970-01 Rim Cud

Description

Cataloged as CU-1C-1970-01 and attributed by the experts at Cuds on Coins, this rim cud on the 1970 Lincoln Memorial cent documents a die break that extended to the edge of the die, causing a section of the die rim to fracture and separate. When a piece of a coin die breaks away at the rim, the void left in the die face fills with metal during each strike, producing a raised, featureless blob on the finished coin — the characteristic appearance that gives cuds their name. This distinguishes cuds from interior die breaks, where the fractured piece remains partially attached and continues to impart some design detail. CU-1C-1970-01 represents the first cataloged rim cud for the 1970 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln cent, with the systematic Cuds on Coins designation encoding the error type (CU), denomination (1C), date (1970), and sequence number (01). The catalog entry was documented on December 21, 2020. Cuds develop progressively as dies age: repeated striking cycles generate microscopic fractures in the hardened die steel, which propagate under continued use until a section separates entirely. The 1970 Philadelphia Mint's substantial production volume meant individual dies accumulated high strike counts, increasing the probability of terminal die failure manifesting as rim cuds. Collectors value cuds based on size, location, and visual impact — larger cuds that displace significant design elements command stronger premiums than small rim chips.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Robert Oney
• CU-1C-1970-01; none. 12/21/2020.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References