LDB4-1956D-001 BIE Die Break

Description

First cataloged BIE die break for the 1956 Denver Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent, LDB4-1956D-001 establishes the opening entry in the BIE catalog for this date — the antepenultimate Denver Wheat Cent, with only 1957-D and 1958-D remaining before the series transition to the Memorial reverse. A BIE die break forms when the thin wall of die steel separating the incuse cavities for the letters B and E of LIBERTY fractures under accumulated striking pressure, creating a void that fills with planchet metal to produce a raised vertical element on the finished coin. Cross-referenced as Cohen 56D-B910 and Hardy 56D-4EH+1, the dual catalog placement provides collectors with multiple attribution pathways. The Hardy 56D-4EH+1 designation as the first entry in the 4EH positional zone establishes this variety's precise location within the LIBERTY letterform area. Documented on July 13, 2015, by the Cuds on Coins research team, this founding entry for the 1956-D BIE catalog stands in sharp contrast to the 1957-D date, which has accumulated well over one hundred BIE varieties. The difference in BIE counts between the two consecutive dates likely reflects differences in production volume, die steel batches, and the intensity of collector examination rather than any fundamental change in the die design. The 1956-D Wheat Cent saw significant Denver Mint production, though not at the extreme levels that made the 1957-D such a prolific source of BIE varieties, and continued roll searching may yet yield additional entries for this date.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross references: Cohen 56D-B910, Hardy 56D-4EH+1. 07/13/2015.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References