CU-1C-1985-33 Rim Cud

Description

Classified specifically as a rim cud, CU-1C-1985-33 on the 1985 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent documents a fracture that followed the rim edge rather than breaking inward into the coin's field. The distinction matters both diagnostically and mechanically: standard cuds detach a wedge-shaped section of die that includes field area, obliterating design elements, while rim cuds separate a narrower band of die material confined to the raised rim ring on the die face. This ring — which forms the coin's protective border — is the structurally thinnest element of the die, making it vulnerable to fractures that propagate along its length rather than cutting across the thicker interior. On a struck coin, a rim cud manifests as an irregular thickening, flattening, or disruption of the rim without significant intrusion into the adjacent design. Detection requires deliberate rim inspection, as the anomaly may be subtle compared to the dramatic field-invading profile of a standard cud. Among the 1985 Philadelphia cud population, rim cuds including CU-33, CU-34, CU-40, and CU-44 form a distinct subcategory that collectors can pursue as a focused subset. 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 Chuck Newman
• CU-1C-1985-33
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References