2004D-1DER-006WS Trail Die Reverse

Description

Cataloged by Trail Dies as the sixth documented reverse trail die with worthless spread for the 2004 Denver Mint Lincoln Memorial Cent, this variety preserves evidence of progressive die deterioration on the reverse face. The WS suffix in the catalog code denotes worthless spread — trail die doubling too minor or diffuse to command a premium in the marketplace, though it remains significant for die variety research and completist collectors. In Stage B, the obverse is in mid die state with a die gouge visible in the field above the B in LIBERTY, while the reverse is also in mid die state with a die chip in the upper part of column 1 of the Memorial facade. These die markers are essential for distinguishing this specific die pair from the other five documented reverse trail dies for 2004-D, since trail die spread alone can be subtle enough to overlap visually between different die pairs. Denver's 2004 cent production contributed billions of copper-plated zinc cents to circulation, and the extended die runs necessary to meet that volume created ideal conditions for trail die formation as dies gradually deteriorated through their service life.

Die Markers

• Stage “B”, obverse is MDS – die gouge in the field above the B in LIBERTY.
• Reverse is MDS – die chip in the upper part of column 1.

External References