A cud affects the rim and as the die deteriorates further, it spreads into the field. Unfortunately, I cannot tell what is affecting the centre of the obverse as there is too much light on the high points.
I see damage on the reverse, Not a Cud, and that leads me to think that the obverse is also damage. The photos don't have any depth to say if the area at Lincolns mouth is raised or recessed.
Sorry about high jacking your thread a couple of weeks ago. I'm just learning about this coin talk forum. Does this pix give it any depth?
It's definitely raised, just not sure if it is a large IDB (interior die break) or added to mount the coin. It does not come up in Cud's on Coins
The reverse is slightly damaged. The obverse is another matter. It looks like it’s raised but not damaged. It may be damage but we’re looking at a photo, not the coin. You’ll definitely want to keep this coin. As for a cud, a cud is a break on the rim. The die cracks and expands with use. The metal on the planchet flows into the die crack and becomes a blob. See photos attached above.
Boy, I've not seen one like this before. After studying it, I think it may be a strike through that remained. A small piece of copper debris got pressed into the coin. Just a guess as it is difficult to tell from photos. You have the coin in hand, so I would use a toothpick or other soft instrument to see if any part of it lifts. Maybe soak it in acetone to see if it loosens up. My second guess would be IDB, as mentioned by @Pickin and Grinin.
You know you would think that after 70 years that an IDB this large would be identified somewhere. I did check known IDB's, but never checked further rim to rim die cracks, shattered dies etc.
@BBBeth Do you have this reference? It should help you learn the definitions and what each look like. http://cuds-on-coins.com/retained-cuds-on-u-s-coins-2/
Wait a second that has flattened the rim . I would call that heavy damage. A rim ding the opposite side is not minor either. Both would body bag at a TPG.
I got ya, on the one hand.... These are the type of coins that I would also put away, label them and look at them at a later date, many of them were re labeled or tossed to the wild.