CU-1C-1985-24 Cud

Description

Photographing die breaks for attribution and documentation purposes demands techniques specifically adapted to the three-dimensional nature of cuds, and CU-1C-1985-24 on the 1985 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent, like all cataloged cuds, was documented through reference photography that captures its diagnostic features. The primary challenge in cud photography is rendering both the featureless raised area and the adjacent design detail in a single image — the height differential between the cud surface and the normal coin plane can exceed the depth of field available at macro magnification. Photographers addressing this challenge employ focus stacking, capturing multiple exposures at incremental focal distances and combining them computationally into a single all-in-focus composite. Lighting angle is equally critical: axial (straight-on) illumination reveals surface texture within the cud area, while oblique (side) lighting emphasizes the topographic boundary where the cud meets the normal coin surface. The Cuds on Coins catalog relies on submitted photographs for variety confirmation, making image quality directly relevant to catalog accuracy. Reference images that clearly show the cud's shape, its relationship to adjacent design elements, and any associated die cracks serve as the primary identification tools for collectors attempting to match their specimens to cataloged varieties. Struck on copper-plated zinc planchets at 2.5 grams and 19mm from the 1985 mintage of approximately 5.65 billion cents.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Keynumis on ebay
• CU-1C-1985-24
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References