LDB5-1958-002 Die Break

Description

Occurring on a 1958 proof Lincoln wheat cent, this die break variety LDB5-1958-002 documents a die failure on coins struck under the controlled conditions of proof production at the Philadelphia Mint. Cross-referenced as Cohen 58-BA1010 and Hardy "Not Listed" with the notation 58P-5BH+ dated 06/12/2016, this variety was cataloged by Cuds on Coins. The Hardy "Not Listed" designation indicates the variety was not previously included in the Hardy die break reference, with the 58P-5BH+ code describing the break's classification within that system. Cohen's 58-BA1010 reference confirms independent documentation. Proof Lincoln cents from 1958 were the final proof wheat cents ever struck, as the design was retired following the 1958 production year and replaced by Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse in 1959. A total of 875,652 proof sets were produced in 1958, each containing the cent alongside other denominations, establishing the maximum possible population for any proof die variety from that year. Die breaks on proof coins are particularly notable because proof dies were carefully prepared, polished, and inspected before use, meaning a break discovered on a proof issue may have developed during the striking process itself rather than carrying over from a pre-existing die flaw. The "LDB5" prefix in the catalog number denotes a specific classification of die break within the Cuds on Coins taxonomy, distinguishing this from rim cuds (CU prefix) and BIE breaks (LDB4 prefix). Final-year proof wheat cent errors carry premium collector appeal because they combine the scarcity of proof production with the historical significance of a design's terminal issue.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Earl M
• Cross references: Cohen 58-BA1010, Hardy Not Listed “58P-5BH+” 06/12/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References