A “cud”
is a type of die break in which a section of the die face
and adjacent part of the die neck break off. This leaves a
void in the die face. Every coin that is struck shows a
featureless lump where the coin metal bulged into the void.
While all
cuds are die breaks, not all die breaks are cuds. By
definition, a cud must incorporate the design rim and at
least a little bit of the field. If a die break is confined
to the field, it is referred to as an “internal die break”
or “interior die break.” Very small internal die breaks are
called “die chips.” If a die break only carries off the
design rim, it is called a “rim cud.”
Cuds are not die varieties. They are
not present at installation and have no connection to the
die manufacturing process. They are, instead die errors.
Nevertheless, many people catalog them. Some cuds are
dynamic, steadily growing larger as more metal breaks off.
However, many are quite stable after they form, creating a
basis for a cataloging system.
Sometimes
a die fragment is held in place, either by the collar (which
surrounds the anvil die) or by the bolts that hold the
hammer die. A die fragment that is held in place usually
sinks in below the level of the die face, creating a
“retained cud.” A retained cud shows up on a coin as a
raised plateau of metal that carries the design. A retained
cud must show either vertical displacement, horizontal
offset, or both. Simple lateral spread is not sufficient to
diagnose a retained cud.
Cuds may
develop quite suddenly, or may be preceded by lesser forms
of die fracture. A cud is sometimes preceded by a “pre-cud
die crack.” This is a crack in the die face that connects
two points on the rim. A cud may also be preceded by a
retained cud. On rare occasions, a cud may be preceded by
an asymmetrical split die. It is always instructive when
one can track down the stage that precedes the definitive
cud.
All
known cuds that break out onto the coin's field from the rim are listed here. Rim cuds are not included - at least
for the time being.
A class of
die cracks hereby called
"Pre-Cuds" will someday be
listed here (based on existing data at hand.
These die
cracks appear in the same place where a retained cud or a cud occupies at a
later point during the coin production at the mint.
In
the CUD table, each cud is identified with two different
number codes. The first one comes from The
Cud Book (1997) and The Cud Book Supplement
(2001) both by Sam Thurman and Arnold Margolis. For the sake of briefness,
each number code is stripped of its prefix, namely, "KHDC-".
The second number code given to each
cud is called Universal Variety Code (UVC) by CONECA (www.conecaonline.org). According to Dr. James Wiles'
The
Kennedy Half Dollar Book (1998 edition, page 9), UVC is assigned to each variety
"within a denomination and series."
Also listed in the
table are each cud's clock position, maximum width and
depth, both of which are given as approximate percentages of
the diameter of the half dollar. The width is the
straight-line distance between the two points where the cud's edge meets
the half dollar's outer rim. The depth measurement is
based on the deepest part of the cud with respect to the
coin's rim. All of these figures are, at best,
approximations.
Each cud's picture can be
viewed by clicking on its CUD-number designation in the CUD
table. By holding your mouse's cursor over the
picture, you will find a small pop-up providing some
additional information. When done with viewing, click on the
picture to return to the CUD table.
As of today,
the total number of cuds listed here is 24.
While most
of cuds in the Kennedy Half Dollar series are of a crescent
shape, much like that of a football, a note must be made
here regarding a few cuds that are of a different or unusual
shape. There are a few cuds that appear like a rim cud
- running along the edge of the coin - and yet break out
onto the coin's field. The 1984-P cud's shape is akin
to that of an arrow head bisected in the middle lengthwise.
Please do feel
free to report any findings to Ken
here.
Many thanks go
to Mike Diamond for his great help and input for the
introduction to Cuds above.
Enjoy!
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Last
revised: 11/14/05
Intro to Cuds