The nickel shows a large die chip. Purists consider a
Cud the result of a coin being struck by a die that has a break involving the edge of the coin.
Interior
Cud is not the term used although there was a time when it was interchangeable. That was a Frank Spadone thing and many of us are still trying to straighten out some of his mistakes in terminology.
Die chips are raised spots on a coin that are the result of small areas of the die that break away on the interior portions of the die. As mentioned, clogged letters, numbers and small raised bumps would be die chips.
A die crack, usually has what I describe as a lightning bolt look. It is thin and raised and not always a perfect line. It is usually fairly thin, although a major die crack can look wider but will still be somewhat jagged in appearance. Die cracks will often develop into die breaks where there are many major raised lines visible on a coin due to disintegration of a die.
Not all die breaks result in a
Cud. Some coins like
Shield nickels are known to be struck by broken dies until the dies would practically fall apart before they were changed. They are loaded with small raised lines as a result.
A die gouge is as described above, a damage to the die that results in a raised portion on the coin. Most often linear, it can sometimes be curved. It is the result of a tool doing damage to the die. It is thought that the extra leaves on Wisconsin
State Quarters are a result of intentional gouges placed on the dies by a mint employee. We sometimes call die gouges, tool marks.
Don't confuse die chips with the sometimes bumpy surfaces on copper-plated zinc cents. You will sometimes see small raised bumps that are the result of corrosion under the plating.
Edited by foundinrolls
11/23/2007 12:28 am
Posted 11/21/2007 11:59 pm
