CU-100c-1972D-02 Rim Cud

Description

Second documented rim cud for the 1972 Denver Mint Eisenhower Dollar, this variety captures a die rim failure on the largest regular-issue United States coin of its era. Eisenhower Dollars, struck from 1971 through 1978, measured 38.1mm in diameter and were produced in copper-nickel clad composition for circulation, with the enormous die face required for this large denomination placing exceptional stress on die rims during production. A cud forms when a piece of the die rim fractures and separates completely, leaving a void that fills with metal during subsequent strikes to create a raised, featureless mass at the coin's edge. The 1972-D Eisenhower Dollar was produced at Denver in a mintage of approximately 92 million pieces — substantial for a dollar denomination but modest compared to cent production — and the combination of large planchet size, high striking pressure, and sustained production runs created conditions conducive to die rim failure. Frank Gasparro's obverse portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Apollo 11 eagle-on-the-moon reverse both featured detailed design elements extending close to the rim, potentially concentrating stress at the die's edge. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this second rim cud for the 1972-D confirms that multiple dies experienced rim failure during the date's production run, documenting a pattern of die deterioration on these large-format coins that parallels the more frequently studied die failures on smaller denominations.

External References