CU-1C-1987-10 Rim Cud

Description

Distinguished by its explicit "Rim Cud" designation, CU-1C-1987-10 on the 1987 Lincoln Memorial cent highlights the most common cud geometry: a break that occurs precisely at the junction of the die face and the collar-facing rim wall. Rim cuds form where the die experiences maximum shear stress during the striking process — the point where the expanding metal of the planchet is forced outward against the collar while the die face drives it downward, creating opposing forces that concentrate at the die's outer edge. This mechanical environment makes the rim the most probable location for die fractures, which is why the majority of cataloged cuds across all denominations are classified as rim breaks. The term "rim cud" distinguishes these from the rarer interior die breaks, where a fragment separates from within the die face rather than at its edge — a fundamentally different fracture mechanism that requires internal flaws or severe die fatigue rather than rim-concentrated stress. As the tenth cud cataloged for the 1987 cent, CU-1C-1987-10 contributes to a census that places this date among the most prolific cud-producing years in the Memorial cent series, a status driven by the enormous mintage of 4,682,466,931 coins at Philadelphia. Struck on copper-plated zinc planchets (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) at 2.5 grams and 19mm.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• CU-1C-1987-10
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References