CU-1C-1980D-02 Cud

Description

Second in the documented sequence of Denver Mint rim failures for 1980, CU-1C-1980D-02 records another instance of terminal die fracture resulting in a cud on the struck coin. The Cuds on Coins catalog numbers these varieties sequentially by order of documentation and confirmation rather than by the chronological order in which the dies actually failed during production — a distinction that matters because multiple die pairs operated simultaneously on different presses throughout the year. The mechanism producing each cud is identical: cyclic loading during high-speed coining operations subjects the die rim to repeated stress-strain cycles that gradually degrade the steel's structural integrity until a fatigue crack propagates to completion and a rim fragment detaches. Once separated, the fragment cannot be reattached, and the die continues to stamp every subsequent planchet with the characteristic raised mass at the break location until a press operator detects the damage and pulls the die from service. CU-1C-1980D-02 occupies a distinct rim position from CU-1C-1980D-01, and collectors should compare break geometry carefully against the Cuds on Coins reference images to ensure accurate attribution. The 1980-D cent was struck from 95% copper planchets at the Denver Mint. Attribution by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Marvin L
• CU-1C-1980D-02
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References