2012 50 CENTS -"CUD" ERRORS

Malaysia 3rd Series(M3S) 2012 50 Cents With Major Die Break Errors-The "CUD"
Rarity:RRR

Major Die Break Errors: The "Cud"
The image below is an example of a 2012 M3S  50 Cents that has a major die break, often referred to as a "Cud".

"Cuds" are a type of Major Die Break Errors. When an area or part of the working die breaks off, a big gap on the working die's surface is created. The coins struck by these dies display a raised blank section which we always reffered to as a "Cud".

To check its authenticity, the portion of the reverse of the coin opposite the cud will be struck weakly due to the lack of counter-pressure.

A major die break error can only be called a "CUD" if the break occurs  attach to the rim of the die. Otherwise, they are just simply referred to as a "die break". Sometimes the die break will not fall off completely, and the resultant strikes are referred to as "retained cuds".

How a Major Die Break  Errors or a "CUD" can happens?
Coins are made by minting machines that apply tremendous stamping pressure to pieces of metal, leaving artistic patterns in the finished coin. The piece of metal, or coin blank, is called a planchet, and the hardened patterns that stamp on the coin are called working dies. There are two dies in a minting press, one die for the Obverse, and one die for the Reverse of the coin.

After hours and hours,days and days of coin striking, the dies sometimes break under the pressure. Mint workers usually replace the dies before they crack, but sometimes several coins are produced before the workers find and replace the dies. If the broken dies go unattended for long periods of time, the break grows worse and worse, leaving larger and larger malformations on the struck coins. A large lump of coin metal left by a major die break is called a "CUD".