CU-5c-1983P-16 Cud

Description

Skipping from catalog number 14 to 16 in the 1983 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel cud sequence, CU-5c-1983P-16 comes from a different die pair than the -14 entry, as each catalog number corresponds to a separately documented rim failure. The gap at number 15 indicates an intermediate cud cataloged from yet another die — the full sequence for 1983-P nickels extends well beyond these entries, documenting a remarkable pattern of die rim stress across the year's run. Philadelphia struck over 561 million nickels in 1983, consuming hundreds of die pairs, and the probability of rim fractures accumulates with each additional die placed into service. The 1983 production year is historically notable for the absence of Philadelphia cents — all cent production was routed to Denver, a unique arrangement in modern Mint operations. Whether this shift affected nickel die scheduling remains speculative, but the concentration of cuds suggests aggressive die utilization. A cud captures the moment a die's rim integrity fails catastrophically, and sixteen documented instances from one date paint a detailed picture of the toll that high-volume striking exacts on coining dies.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Fred Weinberg
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References