1987P-1DER-011T Trail Die Reverse

Description

Discovered by Louis Schaeffer, 1987P-1DER-011T on the 1987 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent documents a tilted trail die reverse at Stage C in late die state with pronounced scratching on both faces. Heavy die scratching runs through LIBERTY on the left side of the obverse die, suggesting the die surface endured significant abrasion concentrated on one hemisphere — a pattern consistent with directional polishing or contact with a foreign object during die maintenance. The reverse carries equally dramatic surface damage: a heavy die scratch passes through the O and over to the N of ONE, while a second heavy die scratch begins at the C and ends at the E of CENT. These two reverse scratches cross the lower denomination legends at different angles, creating an intersecting pattern that is unmistakable under magnification and makes this variety one of the most easily confirmed entries in the census. Late die state classification reflects the accumulated wear evident in both the scratching and the softened design details that develop as a die approaches retirement. Trail dies form when the hub delivers a secondary impression to the die face without perfectly registering over the first, and the tilted classification indicates the hub contacted the die at an angle, concentrating distortion along the tilt axis. 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 1987 mintage of 4,682,466,931 cents.

Die Markers

• Stage “C”, obverse is LDS – heavy die scratching, especially through LIBERTY is seen on the left side of the die.
• Reverse is LDS – a heavy die scratch goes through the O over to the N of ONE. Another heavy die scratch starts at the C and ends at the E of CENT.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Louis Schaeffer
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References