interesting 1957-D multiple die gouge and cuds

[coppersleuth]

This is a 1957-D uncirculated Lincoln Cent (total of 3 pics provided). There is an interesting "loop" or die gouge which extends from the West side of the mintmark and curls up to the bottom of the 9 in the date. Note that this variety comes with a "fill" or cud in the upper portion of the 5 in date, and there is also a die crack and small cud at top of Lincoln's head running roughly north/south.

Any info from others would be appreciated. Is this configuation a common find, and is this particular variety referred to with specific identifying title or something? Thanks again!

http://static.flickr.com/73/196971441_d3b2961102.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/64/196971448_7afb26f911.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/68/196971446_1fbf6ea2b2.jpg

[Bob P]

Jim,
This is nothing more than die fatigue causing some rather nice breaks and filled numbers or letters.
One point I should make concerning terminology. The word 'cud' pertains to a coin minted with a die that has a piece broken out of it. It will appear as raised metal near the edge of the design where the missing piece of the die failed to strike the coin.
In the case of this coin, the area(s) you referred to as a cuds are known as a chips, breaks, or blobs.
These conditions are actually very common in the 50's and 60's as the mint let the dies go a long way before changing them out. 1955-68 are great years for these.

[coop]

On a cud, the outside edges of the die shatter away leaving a small or large area exposed as a gap in the die. When continued to be used the gap get wider as it crumbles away or eventually gets pulled as the operator may notice a problem and replace the upper, lower or just one die to get more wear out of the good die left. This usually happens to the obverse die the hammer, but can happen to the lower die the anvil. Nice to find as they do bring a nice premium to the seller. (I had to borrow an image to use as an example below.)


Note even lower die (Reverse) was affected. Not the weakness on the letters at 7:00. Without the metal that would be there during the striking process, the image is weaker.