LDB4-1951D-002 BIE Die Break

Description

Hardy Index 51D-4F+ tells a specific story about this 1951 Denver Mint BIE die break: the "4" places the break at position 4 between the B and E of LIBERTY, "F" identifies a front sub-position within that zone — meaning the raised bar sits closer to the B than to the E — and the "+" suffix signals at least one additional die break or feature beyond the primary BIE. When a Lincoln Wheat Cent die develops a BIE, the vertical crack in the recessed area between the letters fills with metal during each strike, producing the characteristic raised bar. Additional features flagged by the "+" can include secondary cracks radiating from the main break, nearby die chips, or deterioration patterns elsewhere on the die. This second documented BIE for the 1951-D date is not yet cataloged in the Cohen Index, leaving the Hardy classification as the primary reference. Denver's cent production in 1951 consumed enormous quantities of working dies, and the mechanical stress of high-speed coining made die deterioration varieties like BIEs a predictable consequence. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this front-positioned BIE with supplementary features offers collectors a diagnostically rich example from the early 1950s.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross references: Cohen Not Listed, Hardy 51D-4F+. 07/23/2015.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References