1999P-1DER-053WS Trail Die Reverse

Description

Cataloged by the Trail Dies reference as 1999P-1DER-053WS, this trail die reverse variety was discovered by Patrick Gaughan on a 1999 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Memorial cent. The 1999 cent was produced in the copper-plated zinc composition, weighing 2.5 grams with a 19 mm diameter and a plain edge. Philadelphia's enormous cent production in 1999, exceeding five billion coins, required thousands of individual dies and created extensive opportunities for the incidental die-to-die contact events that produce trail die varieties. This specimen is documented at Stage B, indicating mid-die-state characteristics. The obverse at mid-die state shows no specific die markers noted, while the reverse at mid-die state displays a die dot above the R in PLURIBUS and a light die gouge on the left side of the T in CENT. These reverse die markers serve as critical attribution diagnostics, allowing collectors to confirm the correct die pairing when evaluating potential specimens. Patrick Gaughan's discovery is credited in the Trail Dies catalog, recognizing the individual collector's contribution to expanding the documented census of trail die varieties. The high sequential number (053) for 1999 Philadelphia trail die reverses indicates that this date and mint combination has yielded a substantial number of these varieties, reflecting both the massive production volume and the systematic search efforts of trail die specialists. Trail die varieties represent accidental transfer events in the die manufacturing or press setup process, creating ghost impressions of design elements that appear on every coin struck by the affected die. The Lincoln Memorial reverse, with its twelve columns, architectural details, and multiple inscription elements, provides a particularly complex background against which transferred ghost impressions can be detected and cataloged, and the 1999 date has proven to be one of the most productive for trail die discovery.

Die Markers

• Stage “B”, obverse is MDS – none noted.
• Reverse is MDS – die dot above the R in PLURIBUS. Light die gouge on the left side of the T in CENT.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Patrick Gaughan
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References