Hey all, I found this 1970P cent in a large change jar early last month, and was wondering whether the smeary-looking part is a cud or not. I know that a "cud" technically describes a metal blob on the edge, but this blob is on the side of the Lincoln Memorial building. I initially thought that maybe the columns and building were worn down to the field, but I realized that the blob is at the same height as the rest of the relief. What's going on with my coin? Please help! Attached are two photos - one each of the obverse and the reverse. The obverse has a little pipe and some smoke rings carved into it, which is a bit of a quirk in of itself, but my confusion is more focused on the reverse.
@Strozzie This is an easy one. Let's start with the obverse. The pipe and smoke rings were hammered into the face of the coin. Naturally, to accomplish this, the coin had to have been placed on a hard surface. The force of the strike flattened the devices on the reverse. Therefore, it is not a cud. It is post-mint damage (PMD). By the way, a cud is a die break on the rim that extends into the field. A break anywhere else on the coin is a die break, not a cud. Chris
With all that "stuff" going on I'm sure it's just damage after leaving the mint!! Stamping in the "zeros" on the obverse flattened out the detail on the reverse.
cpm9ball, thank you for this clarification. I guess that explains why I could find no information on it online. And thanks especially for the distinction on cuds versus die breaks. Much appreciated in the long run!
