LDB4-1956-003E BIE Die Break

Description

Notable for its special classification as an "IIBIE" — which the Cuds on Coins numbering system designates as LDB34 — this 1956 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent die break occupies an unusual position within the BIE taxonomy. The "IIBIE" designation indicates that the die crack extends beyond the typical B-to-E span, incorporating additional LIBERTY letter positions into the break pattern. Standard BIE die breaks are confined to a crack between B and E that creates the appearance of an extra "I" letter, but this broader classification (LDB34 rather than the standard LDB4) signals that the crack involves both Hardy position 3 and position 4, spanning a wider area of the LIBERTY inscription. The "E" suffix in the catalog number (003E) indicates this is a sub-variant within the third documented break at this extended position. The Cohen catalog does not list this variety, and no additional cross-references are recorded. Extended BIE breaks that span multiple Hardy positions are less common than standard single-position breaks, making IIBIE varieties a scarce subset within the already specialized field of Lincoln Cent die break collecting. The 1956-P Wheat Cent, produced in the penultimate full year of the wheat ears reverse design, was struck in quantities sufficient to generate numerous die breaks across the LIBERTY area. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, LDB4-1956-003E demonstrates that die failure patterns do not always conform to the neat single-position classifications of the Hardy system, and extended breaks that cross position boundaries require modified designations to capture their full extent.

External References