1992D-1DER-014T Trail Die Reverse

Description

Heavy die damage concentrated around the E PLURIBUS UNUM legend gives 1992D-1DER-014T a distinctive reverse signature among the 1992-D trail die census. A heavy die scratch runs under the R of PLURIBUS, accompanied by die damage under the S of the same word — a cluster of surface deterioration in a relatively small area of the reverse that makes this die immediately recognizable under magnification. Found by Bill Slaughter of Arkansas and documented at Stage B in a Mid Die State (MDS), the obverse carries a small die gouge near the mint mark. The combination of PLURIBUS-area damage with the trail features creates a variety where the incidental die markers are, for many collectors, more visually prominent than the trail phenomena themselves — an ironic circumstance where the attribution is confirmed more easily by damage unrelated to the variety's defining characteristic. The heavy die scratch and damage near PLURIBUS may have developed independently of the trail-producing displacement event, representing ordinary die wear from production use, or they may be related to whatever mechanical anomaly caused the trail displacement. Regardless of their origin, they serve the practical purpose of making 014T one of the more readily identifiable varieties in the 1992-D trail die sequence. Struck at Denver on copper-plated zinc planchets, 2.5 grams, 19mm, plain edge.

Die Markers

• Stage “B “, obverse is MDS – a small die gouge is seen to the of the mint mark.
• Reverse is MDS – a heavy die scratch is seen under the R of PLURIBUS. Die damage is seen under the S of PLURIBUS.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bill Slaughter
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References