1982 (P) Lincoln Memorial Cent - Zinc Large Date - CU-1C-1982-73 Rim Cud

Description

Assigned to the Zinc Large Date subtype, CU-1C-1982-73 is classified as a rim cud — a peripheral die fracture whose raised metal stays confined to the coin's outermost margin. This entry documents a die failure on one of the post-transition 1982 Philadelphia configurations: a cent struck from the copper-plated zinc planchet weighing 2.5 grams, paired with the wider large date numerals. The transition from bronze to zinc planchets mid-year was an economic imperative — rising copper prices had threatened to make the cent's metal content worth more than its face value, and the zinc-core planchet reduced raw material costs while preserving the coin's familiar copper appearance through a thin electroplated coating. For die failure analysis, the zinc planchet's softer composition presented different striking dynamics than the harder bronze alloy, potentially altering stress distribution at the die rim during each coining blow. Whether this material difference affected the frequency or geometry of rim fractures is a question the census data across both compositions may help illuminate. The Zinc Large Date, at 2.5 grams, is easily distinguished from its bronze counterpart by a precision scale. Attribution by Cuds on Coins.

Cross References

• CU-1C-1982-73

External References