1983 (P) Jefferson Nickel - CU-5c-1983P-14 Cud

Description

Fourteenth in a lengthy sequence of documented cuds for the 1983 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel, CU-5c-1983P-14 reflects the enormous production volume and die consumption that characterized nickel coinage in the early 1980s. The year 1983 holds a unique place in U.S. Mint history — it was the only year since 1965 in which Philadelphia struck no Lincoln Cents, with entire cent production assigned to Denver. This concentration of other denominations may have contributed to extended press runs and accelerated die fatigue. A cud forms when a section of the die rim fractures completely and separates, leaving a cavity that fills with metal during striking. Fourteen documented cuds from a single date and mint is an exceptionally high count for the Jefferson Nickel series, suggesting that 1983-P nickel dies were subjected to prolonged use. Felix Schlag's classic obverse and Monticello reverse, unchanged since minor modifications in the 1960s, were by 1983 among the longest-running unchanged designs in American history. Each of these fourteen cuds represents a different die or die position, mapping the rim failure landscape across Philadelphia's 1983 nickel production.

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