1996P-1DER-030T Trail Die Reverse

Description

Discovered by Joe Koelling, this 1996-P Lincoln Memorial Cent exhibits a trail die reverse — a variety that occurs when a die shifts slightly during striking, leaving a faint secondary impression adjacent to the primary strike. The variety is documented at Stage C, where both obverse and reverse show late die state characteristics. Reverse diagnostics include a die gouge below the first S of STATES and a die gouge next to the rim left of N in ONE. Trail die varieties are a specialized category distinct from doubled dies because the duplication occurs during striking rather than die manufacture. This variety represents one of thirty documented trail die reverses for the 1996 Philadelphia cent. Struck in copper-plated zinc at Philadelphia, the 1996-P was produced in the era of modern high-speed coining presses where enormous volumes created numerous opportunities for mechanical anomalies. Trail dies require careful examination to distinguish from machine doubling, as both can produce shelf-like secondary impressions, but trail dies show consistent directionality.

Die Markers

• Stage “C”, obverse is LDS – none noted
• Reverse is LDS – a die gouge is seen below the first S of STATES. A die gouge is seen next to the rim to the left of the N in ONE.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Joe Koelling
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References