1993 (D) Lincoln Memorial Cent - DC-1c-1993D-02R Die Chip

Description

Distinguishing die chips from cuds is one of the first classification skills an error coin collector develops, and DC-1c-1993D-02R on the 1993 Denver Lincoln Memorial cent sits squarely on the smaller side of that spectrum. The dividing line is generally understood as a matter of both size and rim connection: a cud is a die break that extends to the rim of the coin, removing a portion of the die's retaining wall and producing a substantial raised area, while a die chip is an interior fracture — smaller, fully surrounded by intact die surface, and producing only a modest bump. DC-02R is the second reverse die chip cataloged for the 1993-D date. Its scale is characteristic of the minor die surface failures that accumulate as a die ages through hundreds of thousands of impressions. Each die pair had a finite service life, and die chips often appeared during the mid-to-late die state as stress fractures propagated through the hardened steel. Collectors encountering this variety should note its location on the reverse design relative to the Memorial columns, steps, or lettering to confirm identification against the Cuds on Coins catalog entry.

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