CU-1C-2021-03R Cud

Description

Third reverse cud cataloged for the 2021 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Shield Cent, this variety emerged from a production year shaped by pandemic-era disruptions that affected U.S. Mint operations. Supply chain constraints on zinc planchet deliveries in 2020 and 2021 led to adjustments in production schedules and sourcing, and the resulting operational pressures may have influenced die usage patterns. A cud occurs when a section of the die rim fractures and separates, leaving a cavity that fills with metal to produce a raised featureless mass. Three reverse cuds from a single date and mint indicates that multiple reverse dies developed rim failures during 2021-P cent production — not surprising given the volume required but notable in concentration. CU-1C-2021-03R follows the Cuds on Coins cataloging system, where the sequential number tracks documentation order. The cluster of 2021-P reverse cuds provides researchers with comparative material for studying whether production conditions during this unusual period produced different die failure rates than normal years.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Matthew Vallee
• CU-1C-2021-03R
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References