LDB4-1957-004 Die Break

Description

Fourth die break in the 1957 Proof Lincoln Wheat Cent catalog, LDB4-1957-004 holds the distinction of being one of the earliest numbered breaks in what would become an extensive census of die fractures for this date. Unlike later entries with "Pending" Cohen numbers, this variety carries a confirmed Cohen cross-reference: Cohen 57-B542, along with Hardy 57P-4FL+14 — the "+14" suffix providing precise positional data within the fourth field level classification. Cataloged July 20, 2015 by Cuds on Coins, this was among the first 1957 proof die breaks documented in that year's research campaign. The confirmed Cohen number 57-B542 indicates that this break had been previously recognized and cataloged within the Cohen die break classification system, giving it cross-system validation that many of the later "Cohen Pending" entries have not yet achieved. Philadelphia's 1957 proof production of 1,247,952 sets used specially polished dies and planchets struck at controlled speeds, and the fourth numbered break in the LDB4 system suggests that die fractures on 1957 proof cents were discovered in roughly the order of their prominence, with the most visible breaks receiving the lowest catalog numbers. The Hardy positional reference 4FL+14 places this fracture in a specific zone within the die's field area, enabling precise comparisons with other documented field-level breaks.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross references: Cohen 57-B542, Hardy 57P-4FL+14. 0720/2015.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References