1993D-1DER-001WS Trail Die Reverse

Description

With thirty cataloged trail die reverses, the 1993-D Lincoln Memorial cent holds one of the largest single-date trail die censuses in the series — a concentration reflecting Denver's colossal output that year and the sustained attention of variety hunters who combed through rolls by the thousands. The 001WS opens this census with moderate fluting into the stylobate under columns 2 and 3, paired with light step deviation under columns 5 through 8 at a 180-degree offset. Trail dies occur when a die shifts laterally between successive strikes without being fully reseated, producing wavy distortions in the stepped architectural elements of Gasparro's Memorial design. The WS suffix — wavy steps — indicates both fluting (horizontal waviness in the stylobate) and step deviation (vertical displacement of the stairway lines) are present, the two hallmark features distinguishing a pronounced trail die from a subtle one. In Stage B mid-die-state, the obverse carries no notable die markers, while the reverse shows a small die gouge in the lower part of bay 8 and another between the R and I of PLURIBUS. Struck at Denver on copper-plated zinc planchets, 2.5 grams, 19mm, plain edge.

External References