1991P-1DER-005WS Trail Die Reverse

Description

Closing the 1991 Philadelphia trail die reverse sequence, 1991P-1DER-005WS documents a Stage C Late Die State (LDS) specimen that captures the reverse die near the end of its production life. Two die cracks testify to the accumulated metal fatigue: one extends from the left cornice corner to the rim, while a second crack is developing along the base line into the field above NT of CENT. The developing nature of this second crack — described as still forming rather than fully established — suggests the die was approaching retirement but had not yet reached the catastrophic failure stage where cracks widen into die breaks or cuds. This terminal-stage documentation completes the five-variety trail die sequence for the 1991-P cent, spanning from Early Die State through Mid Die State to Late Die State across entries 001 through 005. Together, these five varieties provide a longitudinal record of die deterioration for the 1991 Philadelphia cent production, with the cracks on this final-stage specimen contrasting with the clean die surfaces observed on the earlier-stage specimens in the sequence. Struck at Philadelphia on copper-plated zinc planchets composed of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper, weighing 2.5 grams and measuring 19mm.

Die Markers

• Stage “C”, obverse is LDS – none noted.
• Reverse is LDS – a die crack is seen from the left corner of the cornice to the rim. A die crack is developing along the base line and into the field above the NT of CENT.

External References