1981P-1DEO-001T Trail Die Obverse

Description

One of the scarcest error types in the Lincoln Memorial cent series, the 1981P-1DEO-001T Trail Die Obverse records an instance where the obverse die slid across the planchet during the striking process, leaving a secondary "trail" impression of the design displaced from the primary strike. Trail dies differ fundamentally from doubled dies — whereas doubled dies result from hub-to-die misalignment during die manufacture, trail dies occur during the actual striking of individual coins, making each trail die coin a product of a momentary mechanical malfunction at the press. This variety has been documented in Stage C, with the obverse in late die state, and no significant obverse die markers have been noted beyond the trail impression itself. The reverse, also in late die state, carries identifiable markers: die scratches are visible to the left of the O in ONE, and a curved die scratch appears in bay 11 of the Lincoln Memorial. This trail die was discovered by Aisha Shahid, whose contribution expanded the known inventory of this rare error type for the 1981 Philadelphia cent. The coin was struck from 95% copper, 5% zinc planchets at the Philadelphia Mint. Attribution by Trail Dies.

Die Markers

• Stage “C“, obverse is LDS – none noted
• Reverse is LDS – die scratches are seen to the left of the O in ONE. A curved die scratch is seen in bay 11.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Aisha Shahid
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References