CU-1C-1986-03 Cud

Description

Die crack progression tells the story of how a working die moves toward failure, and CU-1C-1986-03 on the 1986 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent preserves the final chapter of one such progression. Before a cud forms, the die typically develops visible cracks — fine raised lines on struck coins corresponding to fractures in the die steel — that lengthen and deepen with continued use. These cracks may radiate from the rim inward, branch into networks, or follow the stress contours created by the die's engraved design. At some critical threshold, the crack network connects to the die rim on multiple sides, isolating a section of steel that detaches under subsequent striking force. The detached fragment may remain in the press briefly before falling away, and the resulting void immediately begins producing cud coins. Specimens struck just before the final separation may show the full crack network without the cud itself, making them valuable companion pieces that document the die's failure timeline. CU-1C-1986-03 is cataloged under its Cuds on Coins designation as the third documented die break for the 1986 Philadelphia date. Struck on copper-plated zinc planchets (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) at 2.5 grams and 19mm, from the 1986 Philadelphia mintage of 4,491,395,493 cents.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Fred Weinberg
• CU-1C-1986-03; number: none.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References