CU-5c-1985P-04 Rim Cud

Description

Fourth in the cud catalog for the 1985 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel, CU-5c-1985P-04 documents a major die break at the rim where a section of the die fractured completely, producing a raised featureless mass on the struck coin's edge. Rim cuds rank among the most dramatic die break varieties because the missing die fragment leaves an unmistakable raised blob visible to the unaided eye, unlike subtle die cracks that require magnification. When the die material separates at the rim, unrestricted metal flow fills the resulting cavity during each subsequent strike until the die is retired. Philadelphia Mint nickels from 1985 carry no mint mark on Felix Schlag's obverse portrait of Thomas Jefferson, continuing the Original Design series that ran from 1938 through 2003. Collectors seeking this variety should examine the rim carefully for a raised, shapeless area that lacks any design detail — the defining characteristic that separates a true cud from a retained die break, where the fractured piece remains partially attached and produces a different surface texture.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Dustin Goff
• Cross reference: none. 01/01/2019.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References