Part IV. Die Errors:

Die Breaks:

Retained Cuds:

Outthrust Die Fragments

Definition: A coin struck by a retained cud (retained corner die break) in which the die fragment protrudes beyond the plane of the die face.

In most retained cuds, the die fragment sinks in, beneath the plane of the die face. This leaves this part of the coin’s design sitting on a low plateau. In rare instances, the die fragment protrudes beyond the die face, generating an island of design on the coin that is recessed. In order for the die fragment to protrude, it’s possible that bits of die steel or other debris become wedged in between the die fragment and the intact portion of the die neck.

This 1965 quarter dollar takes the form of an enormous broadstrike. The northeast quadrant of the reverse face was struck by an outthrust die fragment (outthrust retained cud). The grossly smeared letters of AMERICA are recessed relative to the rest of the design. This area is demarcated internally by a relatively thick ridge that represents coin metal that extruded between the die fragment and the intact portion of the die face. This means that the die fragment was also displaced laterally (lateral spread).