LDB4-1955S-005 BIE Die Break

Description

Struck at San Francisco in the final year that facility produced circulation-strike cents until resuming in 1968, this 1955-S Lincoln Wheat Cent carries a BIE die break at position 4 classified under Hardy code 55S-4FL+4 — a Front-Left placement with four additional die features. San Francisco's 1955 cent production of just 44.6 million pieces was dramatically lower than Philadelphia's or Denver's output, making S-mint BIE varieties from this date inherently scarcer than their P and D counterparts. The low mintage meant fewer dies were needed, which in turn means fewer opportunities for die breaks to develop — giving each documented 1955-S BIE a relative significance that surpasses comparable varieties from higher-mintage facilities. The Front-Left position places the break toward the forward-left portion of the interstitial space at position 4, and the four additional features indicate moderate secondary die deterioration. Cohen does not list this variety. After 1955, San Francisco ceased cent production for over a decade, making the 1955-S the last San Francisco Wheat Cent — a distinction that adds context to any variety documented on this date.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross references: Cohen Not Listed, Hardy 55S-4FL+4. 07/15/2015.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References