Die defect

[2] Also, the term encompasses a wide variety of design errors that were engraved into the die originally and were slipped into circulation before the incorrect design was discovered.

[3] If this damaged die continues to produce coins, the metal will fill into the crack, thus revealing a raised line of metal in the finished coin.

Specimens with more prominent die cracks can command a high premium and are valued greatly by some collectors.

[4] However, less obvious errors are quite common, especially in the 50 States Commemorative Quarter Program, yielding a lower value.

Cuds result from a piece of the perimeter of the die breaking away.