UDC-1c-1988-01R Unusual Die Crack

Description

Cataloged on February 22, 2022, UDC-1c-1988-01R documents the first unusual die crack on the 1988 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent, specifically on the reverse die as indicated by the "R" suffix. The UDC (Unusual Die Crack) designation in the Cuds on Coins catalog is reserved for die cracks that exhibit atypical characteristics — patterns, paths, or visual effects that set them apart from the routine die cracks that appear on virtually every heavily used coining die. What qualifies a crack as "unusual" may include an exceptionally complex branching pattern, an unexpected trajectory that defies the typical stress lines of the design, a crack that produces a visually striking or recognizable shape, or a crack configuration that is statistically rare for the denomination. Unlike the standardized categories of cuds, pre-cuds, spiked heads, and bisecting cracks — each defined by specific positional or structural criteria — the UDC classification encompasses a broader range of anomalies that merit documentation but do not fit neatly into other categories. This flexibility makes the UDC catalog a catch-all for noteworthy die cracks that expand our understanding of how die steel fractures under production conditions. Struck on copper-plated zinc planchets (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) at 2.5 grams and 19mm.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Greg Bowyer
• Cross reference: none. 02/22/2022.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References