LDB4-1956D-004 BIE Die Break

Description

Cataloged as Cohen 56D-B550 and Hardy 56D-4FH-1, this 1956 (D) Lincoln Wheat Cent exhibits a BIE die break — a distinctive category of die failure unique to the Lincoln Cent series. A BIE occurs when a small die crack or break develops in the space between the letters B and E in LIBERTY on the obverse, creating a raised vertical bump that resembles the letter I, making the word appear to read "BLIBERTY." These breaks form because the narrow field between B and E concentrates stress during repeated high-pressure strikes, causing the die surface to fracture in this predictable location. The Hardy cross-reference 56D-4FH-1 places this within an established classification framework for BIE varieties, while the Cohen designation 56D-B550 provides an alternative catalog number. Rated as very scarce, this particular BIE variety from the Denver Mint represents a notable find within the extensive 1956-D die variety population. BIE die breaks have become a popular collecting specialty within the Lincoln Cent series, with hundreds of examples documented across nearly every date from 1909 through 1958, making them one of the most accessible entry points into variety collecting.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Keith Christenson
• Cross references: Cohen 56D-B550, Hardy 56D-4FH-1. 02/27/2018.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References