RCD-50c-1976D-01 Retained Cud

Description

America's Bicentennial celebration in 1976 produced one of the most recognizable commemorative coin programs in modern history, with the Kennedy Half Dollar carrying a special Independence Hall reverse designed by Seth Huntington and the dual date "1776-1976" on the obverse. RCD-50c-1976D-01 documents the first cataloged retained cud on the 1976 (D) Kennedy Half Dollar, struck at the Denver Mint as part of the massive Bicentennial production effort. A retained cud forms when a section of the die face fractures completely and separates from the die body but does not eject from the cavity, remaining in position during subsequent strikes. The retained fragment produces a raised, smooth, or weakly detailed area on coins at the location of the break, persisting until the fragment shifts or is expelled. The Bicentennial half dollar's high-volume Denver production placed sustained demands on working dies, and this retained cud records one die's progression through the failure cycle. Cataloged and verified by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brett Bench
• RCD-50c-1976D-01; none. 12/10/2018.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References