1988 (P) Jefferson Nickel - CU-5c-1988P-02 Cud

Description

Recording the second documented cud for the 1988 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel, CU-5c-1988P-02 captures a die rim failure from the golden anniversary year of the Jefferson Nickel design. Felix Schlag's portrait of Thomas Jefferson and Monticello reverse first appeared in 1938, making 1988 the fiftieth year of continuous production — a milestone that passed without ceremony at the Mint but that collectors note with interest. A cud forms when a die rim fragment breaks away and the resulting cavity fills with metal during striking, creating a raised featureless area on the finished coin. Two cuds documented for 1988-P indicates that at least two dies sustained rim fractures during the year's production run. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, Philadelphia's Jefferson Nickel output in 1988 was substantial, consuming numerous die pairs over extended production runs. The mechanical forces of high-speed striking concentrate stress at the die rim, where fractures are most likely to initiate. This second entry for the date complements CU-5c-1988P-01 and together they provide a baseline record of die rim failures for the 1988 Philadelphia production.

Cross References

• Cross reference number: none. 01/24/2019.

External References