LDB4-1954S-006 BIE Die Break

Description

San Francisco's lowest Wheat Cent production of the 1950s — just 96.2 million pieces — makes any die variety from the 1954-S inherently less common than comparable breaks on Denver or Philadelphia issues. This BIE die break carries Hardy code 54S-4FL+, placing it at the Front-Left position with a single additional feature beyond the primary bar. The Front-Left position distinguishes this from the Down-Left and Center-Left positions that dominate the 1951-D dies, placing the raised bar in the forward-left area of the space between LIBERTY's letters. San Francisco's modest output consumed fewer working dies than Denver's half-billion-plus production runs, meaning die varieties from this mint had a smaller window of opportunity to enter circulation. The "+" suffix indicates one supplementary feature — minimal additional deterioration beyond the primary break. The Cohen Index has not yet listed this variety, and the Hardy code remains the sole attribution reference. Among all 1950s S-mint Wheat Cents, the 1954-S offers the lowest base production, giving its BIE varieties a scarcity advantage that collectors recognize.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross references: Cohen Not Listed, Hardy 54S-4FL+. 02/23/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References