LDB4-1951D-001 BIE Die Break

Description

First documented BIE die break for the 1951 Denver Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent, this founding entry in the 1951-D BIE catalog was recorded on July 13, 2015, and is cross-referenced as Cohen Not Listed and Hardy 51D-4SBL+1. The Hardy code 51D-4SBL+1 identifies this fracture at a specific position within the LIBERTY inscription at position 4 — the SBL component designating the break's location between particular letters, and the +1 suffix marking it as the first documented break at that sub-position. As the -001 entry, this variety establishes the beginning of BIE documentation for a date that would eventually yield additional discoveries. BIE die breaks form through fatigue failure of the thin die steel ridges separating adjacent incuse letter cavities in the LIBERTY inscription, where each striking cycle subjects these narrow walls to compressive forces that gradually weaken the material until fracture occurs. The void created by the collapsed ridge fills with planchet metal during subsequent strikes, producing the characteristic raised vertical bar. The 1951-D Lincoln Wheat Cent was produced at Denver during the early 1950s, a period when cent production volumes were growing steadily with the postwar economic expansion. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this variety represents the first documented example of a failure mode that affected multiple 1951-D dies. The "Not Listed" Cohen reference indicates this break awaited integration into the comprehensive Cohen numbering system at the time of its documentation. First-in-catalog entries carry special significance for variety collectors who value priority of documentation.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross references: Cohen Not Listed, Hardy 51D-4SBL+1. 07/13/2015.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References