LDB6-1953-001B BIE Die Break

Description

Positioned at Hardy location 6 — further into the die field than the more commonly documented positions 4 and 5 — this BIE die break on a 1953 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent is cross-referenced as Cohen 53-B1105 with Hardy listing noted as "Not Listed." The absence of a Hardy catalog number while a Cohen number exists represents an unusual reversal of the typical pattern where Hardy coverage tends to be more comprehensive, suggesting the Hardy system may not extend its positional framework as thoroughly to position 6 varieties. The "B" die state suffix indicates this is the second documented stage of the crack's development, meaning a Stage A with an earlier, narrower fracture profile should exist. Position 6 in the LIBERTY area places this fracture at a location further from the typical B-E gap than position 4 or 5 varieties, indicating that the stress concentration responsible for the crack was located in a less common zone of the die. BIE die breaks at position 6 are correspondingly less frequently documented than their position 4 counterparts, making this variety notable for its atypical location. The 1953 Philadelphia Mint Wheat Cent was produced in the mid-point of the Eisenhower era, with a mintage of approximately 256 million — a moderate production volume that generated fewer die pairs than the billion-plus runs of later years. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins with documentation from July 2016, this position 6 BIE adds geographic diversity to the understanding of where stress fractures develop within the LIBERTY area of Lincoln Cent dies, complementing the extensive position 4 data available from higher-production dates.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Earl M
• Cross references: Cohen 53-B1105, Hardy Not Listed. 07/08/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References