RIDB-1c-2008-03 Retained Interior Die Break

Description

The RIDB-1c-2008-03, cataloged by Cuds on Coins, is the third documented retained interior die break on the 2008 Lincoln Memorial Cent from the Philadelphia Mint. Interior die breaks — where a section of die steel fractures within the design field rather than at the rim — are relatively uncommon compared to rim-based cuds, making the multiple RIDB varieties for 2008-P noteworthy for their frequency. Each RIDB originates from a different die with a unique interior fracture pattern, creating raised outlines that appear in different locations within Frank Gasparro's Memorial design or on the obverse portrait. The 2008 Lincoln Memorial Cent's position as the final year of the design gives these varieties terminal-year significance. The zinc-core copper-plated composition used since 1982 creates specific striking dynamics that influence where interior stress concentrations develop, and the raised outlines on struck coins vary in size, shape, and location depending on the specific fracture geometry within each individual die. Collectors of die break varieties value retained interior die breaks for their relative scarcity compared to the more common rim-based varieties.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Earl M
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References