1987D-1DER-008T Trail Die Reverse

Description

Among the most mechanically informative entries in the 1987-D trail die census, 1987D-1DER-008T was found by George Antenucci and features a 30-degree offset with a distinctive trail morphology: the trails are described as flat and broad because the hub was not tilted but rather lay flat against the die face as it shifted. This distinction between flat-contact and tilted-contact trail formation is fundamental to understanding trail die classification. When the hub remains parallel to the die during lateral movement, the secondary impression distributes evenly across the contact surface, producing broad, shallow trail marks. In contrast, a tilted hub concentrates pressure along the tilt axis, generating sharper, more localized distortion. The flat, broad trails on 008T affect EPU and the ES of STATES and OF, following the 30-degree vector toward the upper right of the die face. Stage B at mid-die state is confirmed with die markers on both faces: two small die dots sit below the E of LIBERTY on the obverse, while a die gouge appears in the upper bar of the E in UNITED on the reverse. The specificity of this reverse marker — targeting one bar of a three-bar letter — exemplifies the precision required in trail die attribution, where die markers must compensate for the variability that die deterioration introduces into the primary trail features. Struck at Denver on copper-plated zinc planchets (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) at 2.5 grams and 19mm, from the 1987-D mintage of 4,007,632,740 cents. The trails are flat and broad giving the letters affected a seemingly extra thickness.

Die Markers

• Stage “B“, obverse is MDS – two small die dots are seen below the E of LIBERTY.
• Reverse is MDS – A die gouge is seen in the upper bar of the E in UNITED.

Attribution History

• Discovered by George Antenucci
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References