1988P-1DER-001WS Trail Die Reverse

Description

Found by Louis Schaeffer, 1988P-1DER-001WS opens the trail die reverse catalog for the 1988 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent with a Wide Spread/Wavy Steps (WS) type variety. Unlike the tilted (T) trail dies cataloged on the obverse, WS trail die reverses manifest primarily through distortion of the Memorial's staircase lines — the fine horizontal steps show waviness or irregular spacing caused by the hub's imperfect contact with the die during manufacture, creating subtle undulations in what should be perfectly straight, evenly spaced parallel lines. The WS designation indicates that the trail impression spread widely enough to affect the step area rather than remaining confined to isolated design elements. This specimen in Stage B (mid-die state) shows a small die dot under the O of GOD on the obverse, providing a die-pairing confirmation marker. On the reverse at mid-die state, a small die gouge appears between the rim and the left base of the Memorial building. Trail die reverses on Lincoln Memorial cents are particularly interesting because the Memorial's architectural detail — columns, steps, stylobate, and cornice — provides numerous fine parallel lines and geometric structures where even slight hubbing misalignment becomes visible as deviation from the strict regularity of the building's design. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint on copper-plated zinc planchets at 2.5 grams and 19mm.

Die Markers

• Stage “B “, obverse is MDS – a small die dot is seen under the O of GOD.
• Reverse is MDS – a small die gouge is seen to between the rim and the left base of the memorial building.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Louis Schaeffer
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References