Die cud (cud break) Coin Errors
What is a die cud (cud break) error?
A cud is the extreme form of a die crack — a section of the die has fallen out completely, leaving a void that fills with planchet metal on each strike. The result is a featureless raised blob where there should be design. Cuds are dramatic, immediately visible, and rare on modern UK coinage because dies are retired before reaching that state.
How to spot one
- A featureless raised lump where design should be — usually attached to the rim.
- The rest of the coin's design remains normal.
- The cud has soft, rounded edges as planchet metal flows freely into the die void.
- Major cuds are rare on post-1971 UK coins; more common on Victorian and earlier issues.
Authentication
Cuds are difficult to fake convincingly because metal flow patterns are distinctive. Professional grading attribution is recommended.
Famous UK examples
Several catalogued varieties from heavily-used 19th-century dies.
Much rarer; Royal Mint quality control catches most cudded dies.
Key-date UK coins worth examining
Errors on key-date coins compound rarity — the host coin is already scarce, and the error multiplies the value. Browse the rarest UK coins in our catalogue: