LDB345678-1951-001F BIE Die Break

Description

Completing the trio of documented states for Cohen die 51-B97, this 1951 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent carries the "F" suffix and shares Hardy code 51P-3-8Mul+1 with its companion entries 001D and 001E. Together, these three records map the lifecycle of a single die whose structural integrity failed across all six interstitial spaces in the LIBERTY inscription — an exceptionally thorough documentation of progressive die deterioration. Three separately cataloged states suggest this die produced coins over a sufficient production span for researchers to identify distinct phases of break development, from initial cracking through advanced metal displacement. Multi-position BIE breaks of this magnitude are uncommon in the broader Lincoln Wheat Cent series, where most documented varieties affect only a single position — typically position 4 between the B and E. That this die fractured across every position speaks to a fundamental metallurgical weakness or an extreme production run pushing the die well beyond its normal service life. Hardy's "+1" notation on all three entries indicates a consistent additional die feature present throughout the die's documented lifespan.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Louis A
• Cross references: Cohen 51-B97, Hardy 51P-3-8Mul+1. 06/11/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References