CU-50c-1971D-06 Cud

Description

Documented by Cuds on Coins on May 22, 2023, and cataloged as CU-50c-1971D-06 with no established cross-reference number, this variety is described as a very small cud error on a 1971-D Kennedy Half Dollar struck at the Denver Mint. Cuds occur when a portion of the die rim fractures and separates from the die body, creating a void that produces a raised, featureless lump of metal at the corresponding position on struck coins. The "very small" characterization indicates the die fragment that separated was minimal in size, producing a proportionally small raised blob that may require careful examination to distinguish from other rim irregularities. The sixth documented cud for the 1971-D half dollar, this variety adds to the catalog of die break events recorded across the Kennedy Half Dollar series. Gilroy Roberts designed the Kennedy obverse portrait and Frank Gasparro designed the heraldic eagle reverse, a design pairing that has been in continuous production since 1964. The 1971-D Kennedy Half Dollar was struck at the Denver Mint in copper-nickel clad composition (outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a pure copper core), weighing 11.34 grams at 30.6 mm diameter, with a mintage of 302,097,424 half dollars. The 1971 date marks the first year clad half dollars were released for general circulation (the 1965-1970 issues were 40% silver). Despite its small size, this cud documents a die failure event and contributes to the comprehensive census of Kennedy Half Dollar die breaks maintained by the Cuds on Coins reference.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jeff Mortland
• CU-50c-1971D-06; number: none. 05/22/2023.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References