1995D-1DER-003WS Trail Die Reverse

Description

Jim Karnes discovered the reverse trail die that became 1995D-1DER-003WS, the third cataloged trail die reverse for the 1995 Denver Lincoln Memorial Cent. Stage B die markers confirm mid-die-state positioning: the obverse at MDS shows a die gouge over the B and E of LIBERTY, while the reverse at MDS carries a die gouge by the left cornice tip of the Lincoln Memorial. Trail Dies documented this variety within a year that saw Denver produce 6,411,440,000 Lincoln Cents — one of the highest single-facility mintages in the denomination's history and a figure that generated extensive die variety populations. The trail die mechanism produces a subtle offset impression distinguishable from standard doubled dies by its characteristically faint, ghost-like quality and by the specific areas where displacement manifests. The left cornice tip die gouge on the reverse serves as a reliable secondary diagnostic: cornice areas on the Memorial design, where horizontal architectural elements meet vertical columns, concentrate striking stress and are prone to developing gouges and chips as the die accumulates impressions. Denver's production environment in the mid-1990s operated at peak capacity, with individual cent dies potentially striking 500,000 to 1,000,000 coins before replacement, and the mid-die-state classification of Stage B indicates this trail die variety was identifiable across a substantial portion of the die's production life. Attribution credit to Jim Karnes reflects the essential role that individual variety hunters play in expanding the catalog of known trail die varieties.

Die Markers

• Stage “B”, obverse is MDS – die gouge over the B and E of LIBERTY.
• Reverse is MDS – die gouge by the left cornice tip.

External References