2007P-1DER-007T Trail Die Reverse

Description

Found by Louis Schaeffer and documented in the Trail Dies catalog, the 2007P-1DER-007T is a trail die reverse variety discovered on a 2007 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Memorial Cent. Faint trail lines are visible extending from the bottom of the letters on the left side of E PLURIBUS UNUM, with the offset direction measured at 120 degrees — a precise angular measurement that helps distinguish this trail die from others in the catalog and provides researchers with data about the relative die orientation during the unintended secondary contact event. Die markers at Stage A identify both the obverse and reverse at EDS (Early Die State): the obverse shows no significant markers, while the reverse displays a die dot on the right side of the last A in AMERICA. The EDS classification for both dies indicates this die pairing was documented early in its production run, with the trail die characteristics present from the very beginning of striking since trail die features originate during die manufacturing rather than during production use. Trail die varieties result from unintended secondary die contact during the hubbing or die preparation process, producing faint ghost impressions offset from the primary design at a measurable angle. The Lincoln Memorial Cent was designed by Frank Gasparro for the reverse and Victor David Brenner for the obverse, struck at the Philadelphia Mint in copper-plated zinc composition (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) weighing 2.5 grams with a diameter of 19.05 mm. The 120-degree offset angle on this variety places the trail impression in a direction that is neither purely horizontal nor purely vertical, creating a diagonal displacement that becomes visible on the EPU letters as faint secondary serifs extending from the letter bases.

Die Markers

• Stage “A”, obverse is EDS – none noted
• Reverse is EDS – die dot on the right side of the last A in AMERICA.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Louis Schaeffer
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References