CU-5c-1979D-02 Cud

Description

When a section of a coin die fractures along the rim, the void produces a raised featureless blob on struck coins — a major die break known as a cud. Cataloged as CU-5c-1979D-02 by Cuds on Coins, this 1979 Denver Jefferson nickel displays such a rim-contiguous break. Cross-referenced in the Thurman and Margolis cud reference as JNC-79D-1. Cuds are distinguished from minor die cracks and interior breaks by their position at the die's edge, where the broken piece falls away entirely, leaving an unsupported area that fills with metal during striking. The resulting raised mass obliterates whatever design elements occupied that rim section. Jefferson nickels from the late 1970s had enormous mintages, making the base coin common, but cuds of meaningful size transform an ordinary coin into a collectible error. The JNC cataloging system provides a standardized framework for identification. Collectors evaluate cuds by break size relative to diameter, whether the cud obscures significant design elements, and overall eye appeal.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Fred Weinberg
• Cross reference number: JNC-79D-1. Cross reference number: JNC-79D-1.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References