1988P-1DEO-005T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Discovered by Aisha Shahid, 1988P-1DEO-005T represents the fifth cataloged trail die obverse on the 1988 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent, documenting another working die that received a misaligned or incomplete hub impression during manufacture. The obverse in Stage A (early die state) presents no significant markers beyond the trail impression itself, while the reverse in early die state carries two distinctive features: a die dot in the upper part of the N in ONE and a small die gouge over the second shrub on the right side of the Memorial building. Die dots — small raised bumps on the coin's surface caused by tiny pits in the die face — are among the most reliable attribution markers because they are precisely located, clearly visible, and resistant to wear, making them useful reference points even on circulated specimens. The gouge over the second right-side shrub offers a second confirmation point, and the combination of these two reverse markers with the obverse trail impression creates a three-point attribution profile. Trail die obverses on 1988-P cents are classified with a "T" suffix denoting the tilted type, indicating the hub tilted during its contact with the die rather than shifting laterally, producing trail traces that radiate from a tilt axis rather than running parallel in a single direction. Struck at Philadelphia on copper-plated zinc planchets at 2.5 grams and 19mm.

Die Markers

• Stage “A “, obverse is EDS – none noted
• Reverse is EDS – a die dot is seen in the upper part of the N in ONE. A small die gouge is seen over the second shrub on the right side of the Memorial building.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Aisha Shahid
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References