CU-1C-1985-09R Cud

Description

The second reverse cud cataloged for the 1985 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent, CU-1C-1985-09R joins CU-02R in documenting die failures on the Memorial side of the coin — a pairing that makes 1985-P notable among Lincoln cent dates for reverse cud frequency. Having two reverse cuds from the same date and mint is uncommon across the broader Lincoln cent series, where the ratio of obverse to reverse cuds typically runs heavily in favor of obverse breaks. Several mechanical factors explain this imbalance: in most coining press configurations, the obverse die serves as the upper (hammer) die that delivers the striking force, absorbing greater shock with each impression. The reverse (anvil) die, seated in the press bed, endures compressive stress but less impact shock. This asymmetry means obverse dies generally develop fatigue fractures earlier and more frequently. When a date produces two reverse cuds alongside numerous obverse examples, it may indicate that particular reverse dies in the 1985 Philadelphia production run experienced unusual stress — perhaps from slightly misaligned press components or from dies that entered service with pre-existing subsurface flaws. Struck on copper-plated zinc planchets at 2.5 grams and 19mm from Philadelphia's 1985 production of approximately 5.65 billion cents.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Charity & Chris Welch & JC Stevens
• CU-1C-1985-09R
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References