Die Crack & Cud Error Coins
When a coin die cracks or breaks, the metal flows into the gap and leaves a raised line (die crack) or a raised blob at the rim (cud) on every coin it strikes. Large cuds are the most collectible.
Raised line or blob on your coin? Check it.
Snap a photo and Coin AI identifies the coin, estimates its grade, and gives a value range in seconds.
What to look for
Die crack & cud examples to check
- Thin die crack — Hairline raised line — small premium on most coins.
- Major die crack — Bold, branching cracks ('die break') worth more.
- Rim cud — A raised, blank blob at the rim — the most valuable form.
- 1999 Quarter — Delaware 'Spitting Horse' is a famous die-crack variety.
- Off-Center Strike Error Coins — Another major strike-error type collectors hunt.
Raised line or blob on your coin? Check it.
Snap a photo and Coin AI identifies the coin, estimates its grade, and gives a value range in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cud error on a coin?
A cud is a raised, blank blob of metal at the rim of a coin, created when a piece of the die breaks off and metal flows into the void. Large, well-defined cuds are the most collectible and valuable form of die-break error.
Are die cracks worth money?
Minor die cracks add only a small premium, but major branching cracks and large rim cuds can be worth tens to hundreds of dollars depending on denomination and grade. Photograph yours in Coin AI to assess the error.