CU-50c-1984P-02 Rim Cud

Description

Second in the documented pair of 1984 Philadelphia Mint Kennedy Half Dollar rim cuds, CU-50c-1984P-02 preserves a die rim fracture event distinct from the -01 cud also cataloged for this date-mint. The existence of two separate cud varieties for the 1984-P half dollar means two different working dies each experienced independent rim failure events — a frequency that may reflect either the die steel's susceptibility to rim fracture under the particular production conditions of that year or simply the normal statistical distribution of die failures across a production run. Kennedy Half Dollar mintages by 1984 had stabilized at relatively modest levels compared to the enormous outputs of the late 1960s, as the denomination found its primary market among collectors, casino rolls, and Mint set purchasers rather than everyday commerce. The Cuds on Coins catalog lists no additional cross-references for CU-50c-1984P-02. A rim cud forms when a piece of the die edge fractures and separates, leaving a void in the striking chamber wall. Under striking pressure, planchet metal flows into this void, creating the characteristic raised, featureless blob at the coin's rim that gives cuds their distinctive appearance. On the Kennedy Half Dollar's 30.61mm diameter — the largest circulating U.S. coin — rim cuds can be particularly dramatic in scale, as the die rim circumference is proportionally greater and the forces at the periphery can drive substantial metal flow into the fractured zone. Gilroy Roberts's Kennedy portrait and Frank Gasparro's heraldic eagle were struck in copper-nickel clad (91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel bonded to copper) at 11.34 grams. Both 1984-P cuds represent interesting companion pieces for collectors building a comprehensive Kennedy error type set.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• CU-50c-1984P-02; none.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References