LDB4-1957-011 Die Break

Description

Among the earliest documented die breaks in the 1957 Proof Lincoln Wheat Cent LDB4 census, LDB4-1957-011 was cataloged on July 13, 2015 — predating many of the higher-numbered entries by over a year. Cross-referenced as Cohen Pending and Hardy 57P-4EL+17, this break carries the element-level ("4EL") Hardy classification, indicating the fracture runs through a design element on the die rather than across an open field area. The "+17" positional suffix provides a specific location reference within the element-level taxonomy that distinguishes this break from the "+26" of LDB4-1957-017 and the "+25" of LDB4-1957-001. The Philadelphia Mint's 1957 proof production of 1,247,952 sets employed dies polished to mirror finish and struck at elevated pressure, conditions that can concentrate stress at design elements where the die's surface topography changes abruptly between raised and recessed areas. Element-level breaks on proof cents are particularly visible because the mirror fields surrounding the broken area provide maximum contrast against the disturbed metal of the fracture zone. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, LDB4-1957-011 contributes to the growing body of element-level break data for 1957 proof cents, a dataset that enables researchers to identify which specific design elements are most vulnerable to fracture initiation under proof striking conditions.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross references: Cohen Pending, Hardy 57P-4EL+17. 07/13/2015.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References