1986P-1DEO-002T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Found by Louis Schaeffer, 1986P-1DEO-002T on the 1986 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent presents trail die obverse effects at Stage B in mid-die state — a window where the progressive deterioration has developed enough to be diagnostic but has not yet been obscured by the heavy wear that characterizes late die state specimens. The obverse at mid-die state carries two die scratches above WE, providing localized markers for attribution without the extensive surface disruption seen on more heavily worn dies. On the reverse, also at mid-die state, die gouges appear next to the S in PLURIBUS and the M in UNUM, offering independent reverse-side confirmation points. Trail dies on the Lincoln Memorial cent typically manifest as subtle raised lines or shelf-like distortions along design elements, particularly where the coining pressure concentrates at transitions between raised design and flat field. The mid-die state documentation captured by Schaeffer's discovery provides a valuable intermediate reference point in the die's progression — early enough that markers remain crisp, yet advanced enough for the trail die effect to be clearly established. Struck at Philadelphia (no mint mark) on copper-plated zinc planchets (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) at 2.5 grams and 19mm, from the 1986 mintage of 4,491,395,493 cents.

Die Markers

• Stage “B”, obverse is MDS – two die scratches are seen above WE.
• Reverse is MDS – die gouges are seen next to the S in PLURIBUS and the M in UNUM.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Louis Schaeffer
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References