2006P-5DEO-003T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Discovered by Tanaka Davis, this 2006 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel exhibits a trail die obverse variety from the Return to Monticello series. A trail die occurs when a mismatched die impresses design elements onto a working die during manufacturing, leaving residual traces from an unrelated design. In Stage B, the obverse is in Mid Die State with a die gouge visible in the field under the 2 digit of the date. The reverse is also in Mid Die State with numerous small die gouges appearing in and around the word FIVE. Trail die varieties on Jefferson Nickels are less commonly cataloged than on Lincoln cents, making discoveries on the nickel denomination noteworthy additions to the die variety record. Struck in 75% copper and 25% nickel at the Philadelphia Mint, the 2006 Jefferson Nickel used the new forward-facing portrait of Jefferson introduced in 2005 paired with the restored Monticello reverse. Davis's discovery documents a trail die on this transitional-era nickel, with the date-area die gouge and the reverse FIVE gouges providing the key attribution markers for collectors examining this variety.

Die Markers

• Stage “B “, obverse is MDS – a die gouge is seen in the field under the 2 digit of the date.
• Reverse is MDS – numerous, small die gouges are seen in and around the word FIVE.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Tanaka Davis
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References