



Ken Potter's Educational Series ...

What Is A Major Die Break (or Cud)?

And What Isn't !

by Ken Potter - NLG

July 17, 2006



Photo © Ken Potter 2006

This 1983 Cent displays what is commonly referred to a Base Of Bust Cud.

This is the most common area for cuds to develop on Lincoln Cents

Collectors more often than not refer to a major die break under the slang term "Cud." The term has it roots in the early error-variety hobby when the use of nicknames was more prevalent than today. This is one of the few slang terms that has stuck. No matter what you want to call it, a Major Die Break or "Cud" always involves a breakage of the die that includes a portion of its shank and field and or design areas. In other words, it will involve a section of the die from its edge large enough to include some of the face of the die that has broken and fallen away or has in some rare cases been retained.



Photo © Ken Potter 2006

This 1906 Indian Head cent displays what is referred to as a Retained Major Die Break (Retained Cud). Notice how the

area running from about 6:15 o'clock to about 7:00 is raised up at a different level from the rest of the coin.

In this case a chunk of the die supposedly broke away from the rest of the die but remained in place, at least temporarily, by gravity.

The fact is that the vast majority of the so-called Retained Cuds most probably are not.



Cuds are often confused with die breaks or even die chips that are found within the interior of the coin design but have no connection to the shank of the die or edge of the coin. A die break -- no matter how large -- that does not involve the edge of the die is not a cud -- it is simply a die break which may be defined as a Small Die Break or Large Die Break (see Alan Herbert's Official Price Guide To Mint Errors for an in-depth discussion on die breaks, chips, etc.). Some collectors, through plain ignorance or for monetary reasons (because the term "cud" seems to imply greater value) will sometimes refer to these as "interior cuds." The fact is, the error-variety hobby agreed decades ago that if a die break occurs anywhere away from the edge (or neck of the die) within the field of coin design it is NOT a cud. Sellers, inventing new terms to replace perfectly good, traditional terms are not going to make simple die breaks into cuds! Another term we've seen come into use in recent years is interior die break. Unless a die break is defined as a Major Die Break or a Collar Die Break or a Rim Die Break, etc., it is implied to be a die break found within the die face. Specialists got along for decades understanding perfectly well what the term "die break" meant and there is no need to start modifying this term now. If you do not understand the terms, you need to buy some books and read them -- it's that simple! Of course if you do decide to use the term interior die break anyway it should cause little confusion but it is unnecessary.

Since pictures speak louder than words, I'll illustrate the differences between the various variety coin classifications discussed here and elaborate upon them further below.

Note: This discussion does not include Rim Cuds, Collar Cuds

which will be added to this discussion at a later date



Photo © Ken Potter 2003

This Clad Washington Quarter dollar shows a nice cud covering most of the date.

The void in the die created by the cud caused so much metal to flow into the obverse die,

that the area opposite it on the reverse did not strike up. This is typical of larger cuds but

may not occur on smaller cuds. Notice the area of missing detail in STATES OF AMERICA.



Photo © Ken Potter 2006 / Coin courtesy of Bill Reese

A large die break is apparent on this 2005-D Jefferson five cent piece w/ Bison Reverse.

Die breaks like these are often described as cud by folks who do not know any better.



Photo © Ken Potter 2003

Here we see a die chip between the B and E of LIBERTY on a 1996 Lincoln cent! It's NOT a Cud!



Photo © Ken Potter 2005

On this 1952-D Lincoln cent we see a die crack that extends down from the tail of the 9 to a die break

extending west from the Mint mark and die cracks (of ten called a Cracked Skull) on Lincoln's

Head. A die chip is at the end of the crack closest to the eye. None of these are Cuds!



Photo © Ken Potter 2003 / Die from the Ken Potter Collection

A view of the face of an Alcoholics Anonymous Die Containing a Major Die Break



Photo © Ken Potter 2003 / Die from the Ken Potter Collection

A side view of the Alcoholics Anonymous Die Containing a Major Die Break



Photo © Ken Potter 2003 / Die from the Ken Potter Collection

A side view of a Bust Dollar Silver Round Die Containing a Major Die Break



Photo © Ken Potter 2003 / Die from the Ken Potter Collection

A 1998 Mardi Gras Die Containing a Major Die Break

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For more detailed information on Doubled Dies and other forms of doubling, we recommend that you visit our Educational Image Gallery

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