CU-25c-2002P-01(LA) Rim Cud

Description

First documented rim cud for the 2002 Philadelphia Mint Louisiana State Quarter, this major die break produced a raised featureless blob at the edge of the coin where a section of the die rim fractured and broke away. When a piece of the die separates at the rim, the resulting cavity fills with metal during each subsequent strike, creating the distinctive raised mass that defines a cud error. The "(LA)" designation in the catalog number identifies Louisiana as the specific State Quarter design, distinguishing it from cuds on other 2002 quarter issues (Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, and Mississippi were also released that year). Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this is a significant variety for State Quarter error collectors, who systematically track die breaks across all fifty state reverse designs. The State Quarters program (1999-2008) released five new reverse designs annually, with each design struck at both Philadelphia and Denver in enormous quantities — Louisiana quarters alone saw a combined mintage exceeding 700 million pieces. The high-speed production necessary to meet these volumes placed tremendous stress on dies, making rim fractures and cuds an expected byproduct of the manufacturing process. Louisiana's reverse design, featuring a pelican and the outline of the Louisiana Purchase territory, was the first State Quarter released in 2002.

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