1996P-1DER-031T Trail Die Reverse

Description

Discovered by Joe Koelling, this 1996 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Memorial Cent is a trail die reverse — a variety created when a die that has been removed from service leaves residual impressions or markings that transfer to a replacement die or affect coins during the transition. Trail dies document the mechanical process of die changeover in high-speed coining presses, where the outgoing die's final strikes or contact marks become part of the numismatic record. Struck in copper-plated zinc, this example was observed in Stage C, a late die state. No obverse die markers were noted in this late state, but the reverse carries significant evidence of die deterioration: a die crack with an associated die chip extends from the U into the N of UNUM, and heavy die scratching appears below the left baseline and above ONE. These late-die-state features indicate the reverse die was near the end of its useful life, with accumulated cracks and surface damage that would have prompted replacement. Trail die varieties are cataloged separately from standard die varieties because they arise from the die changeover process rather than from hubbing or mintmark punching errors.

Die Markers

• Stage “C”, obverse is LDS – none noted.
• Reverse is LDS – a die crack with a die chip is seen from the U into the N of UNUM. There is heavy die scratching seen below the left base line and above ONE.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Joe Koelling
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References