LDB4-1956-001A Die Break

Description

Die breaks begin as microscopic stress fractures within the die steel, propagating outward under repeated striking pressure until they manifest as raised lines or displaced metal on struck coins — and this first die break variety for the 1956 proof Lincoln Wheat Cent captures that process on a coin struck with mirror-finish precision. Designated LDB4-1956-001A, the "001" marks it as the inaugural die break cataloged for this proof date, with "A" denoting a specific sub-variety stage. Cross-referenced as Cohen 56-B632 and Hardy 56P-4F+12, the "56P" confirms its proof status. Proof Lincoln Cents were struck at Philadelphia on polished planchets using specially prepared dies, a controlled environment where die cracks transfer with exceptional clarity onto the reflective fields. Victor David Brenner's Wheat Cent design was in its penultimate era by 1956, just three years before Frank Gasparro's Memorial reverse would replace it. The 1956 proof mintage provided collectors with coins whose mirror surfaces preserve die break detail far more sharply than business strikes, making proof die breaks particularly valued for study.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross references: Cohen 56-B632, Hardy 56P-4F+12.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References