1986 (P) Jefferson Nickel - CU-5c-1986P-02 Cud

Description

Sequential with the third catalog entry for this date, CU-5c-1986P-02 documents the second known cud on the 1986 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel — and the consecutive numbering with -03 suggests these two cuds may trace to the same die at different stages of progressive failure. When a die rim cracks, the fracture rarely halts; continued striking propagates the break until a section separates to form a cud, and the weakened rim may crack again at an adjacent point. The Jefferson Nickel by 1986 had been in continuous production for forty-eight years with Felix Schlag's original design, making it one of the longest-running coin designs in U.S. history. Each die pair was manufactured by hubbing Schlag's master design into fresh die blanks, and while every die started identical, each developed its own pattern of wear, stress cracks, and eventual failure. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this second cud for 1986-P adds to the documented record of die rim failures during a decade of heavy nickel production at Philadelphia.

External References