LDB4-1985-001 BIE Die Break

Description

Cataloged under Hardy Index 835P-4BHM and assigned Lincoln Die Break number LDB4-1985-001, this BIE die break on the 1985 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent documents one of numismatics' most recognizable minor error types. A BIE occurs when a die crack or die chip develops between the letters B and E in LIBERTY, creating a raised vertical line on struck coins that resembles a capital letter I — hence the name. The Hardy Index, created by R. Alan Hardy as the standard cataloging system for BIE die breaks, encodes date and mint in the prefix (835P indicating 1985 Philadelphia) followed by a position code (4BHM) that specifies the exact location and characteristics of the break within the B-E gap. BIE varieties range from faint hairline cracks producing barely perceptible raised lines to full die chips creating thick, prominent verticals. Cataloged on December 30, 2024, this variety was documented nearly four decades after the coins were struck — a testament to the ongoing nature of variety discovery as collectors continue examining common-date cents. BIE die breaks have developed a devoted specialist following, with collectors assembling date runs or pursuing every documented Hardy Index entry for specific years. Struck at Philadelphia on copper-plated zinc planchets at 2.5 grams and 19mm from the 1985 mintage of approximately 5.65 billion cents.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Giselle Maldonado
• Cross references: Hardy Index 835P-4BHM. 12/30/2024.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References