2006D-1DEO-001T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Cataloged by Trail Dies as 2006D-1DEO-001T, this trail die obverse variety appears on a 2006-D Lincoln Memorial cent struck at the Denver Mint. The Lincoln Memorial cent was produced in copper-plated zinc composition weighing 2.5 grams with a 19 mm diameter and a plain edge. Trail die varieties represent a specialized category of die anomaly where the hub makes irregular contact during the die manufacturing process, leaving directional trail marks that extend from design elements in patterns distinguishable from conventional doubled die mechanisms. This variety was found by Cal Goddard, whose discovery contributed to the growing trail die census on Lincoln Memorial cents. Die markers document the variety in Stage B, with the obverse in mid die state showing a small die gouge between the US of TRUST. The reverse, also in mid die state, exhibits dimples under the letters of the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. The dimples beneath the motto letters are a particularly interesting reverse marker, as their uniform distribution under multiple letters suggests they may have been created by a systematic die preparation process rather than random contact damage. The 001T designation indicates this is the first cataloged trail die obverse for the 2006-D Lincoln cent, representing the initial discovery of trail die characteristics on Denver Mint cents from this date. The 2006 date falls near the end of the Lincoln Memorial reverse's production run, which concluded in 2008 before the 2009 Bicentennial designs and the 2010 Shield reverse took over. Trail die research on Memorial cents has revealed that these varieties occur across the full fifty-year span of the design, from the earliest issues through the final years of production, suggesting the hub contact anomalies responsible for trail die formation were a consistent, if infrequent, byproduct of the die manufacturing process throughout this period.

Die Markers

• Stage “B “, obverse is MDS – a small die gouge is seen between the US of TRUST
• Reverse is MDS – dimples are seen under the letters of the motto EPU.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Cal Goddard
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References