CU-1C-1972D-02 Cud

Description

Second cud variety cataloged for the 1972-D Lincoln Memorial cent, CU-1C-1972D-02 documents another distinct die that developed a rim-area break during Denver's extensive 1972 cent production. Each cud in the Cuds on Coins numbering system represents a separate working die whose rim integrity failed at a specific point in its service life — the sequential number does not indicate severity, size, or position but simply the order in which the variety was identified and cataloged by researchers. The mechanics of cud formation involve progressive die fatigue: microscopic cracks initiate at the rim junction where the die face meets the collar, propagate inward along stress concentration paths through the die steel, and eventually coalesce into a fracture plane that liberates a fragment. Once separated, the missing section creates a recessed area in the die that fills with metal during striking, producing the characteristic raised, featureless mass on the coin's surface. The 1972-D date accumulated seven documented cuds (CU-1C-1972D-01 through -07), a relatively substantial count that reflects both the high production volume requiring numerous dies and the active collector community screening 1972-D cents — a date already popular among variety hunters due to the famous Philadelphia doubled die drawing attention to all 1972 mint products. Whether this cud affects the obverse or reverse, and which specific design elements it obliterates, defines its visual character and collectibility. The Cuds on Coins cross-reference system allows collectors to match their specimens against the documented die breaks for positive attribution.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Fred Weinberg
• CU-1C-1972D-02
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References