UDC-1c-2020-01R Unusual Die Crack

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins as UDC-1c-2020-01R, this 2020 Lincoln Shield Cent preserves an unusual die crack on the reverse — a crack following an unexpected path distinct from the typical radial die cracks that extend from the rim inward. The "UDC" designation stands for Unusual Die Crack, a classification reserved for fractures deviating from standard crack patterns by location, direction, shape, or behavior. The "R" suffix confirms this crack appears on the reverse, where Lyndall Bass's Union Shield provides the background. Typical die cracks form radially because stress concentrates at the rim — the thinnest part of the die — and propagates inward along predictable paths. Unusual die cracks may traverse unexpected regions, follow curved or branching paths, or originate from interior stress points unrelated to the rim. These irregular fracture patterns often reveal non-standard stress conditions such as inclusions, metallurgical inconsistencies, or damage from foreign material in the press. The 2020 Lincoln Cent was struck on copper-plated zinc at 19mm. Examine the reverse for a raised crack line following an atypical path across the shield or surrounding elements.

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