LDB4-1956-014C BIE Die Break

Description

Documented by Cuds on Coins and cross-referenced to Cohen 56-B977 and Hardy 56P-4DHM-2, this 1956 Lincoln Wheat cent BIE die break carries the catalog designation LDB4-1956-014C under the 4DHM die marker classification. BIE die breaks occur when a small section of the die between the letters B and E of LIBERTY fractures, producing a raised vertical bar on struck coins that resembles a capital letter I inserted between B and E. The obverse die markers for this specific variety include a die chip on the digit 9 in the date and die cracks running across Lincoln's head and through the designer's initials VDB at the base of the bust truncation. These secondary features are critical for attribution because hundreds of different BIE breaks exist across the Wheat cent series, and the die chips and cracks tie each BIE to its specific die pair. The 1956 Philadelphia cent saw enormous production of over 420 million coins, providing ample opportunity for die fatigue failures, yet documented BIE breaks with confirmed cross-references to both the Cohen and Hardy catalogs represent a more select population. The 4DHM marker classification indicates the specific die characteristic grouping used by Cuds on Coins for organizational purposes.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross references: Cohen 56-B977, Hardy 56P-4DHM-2.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References