2008P-1DEO-010T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Cataloged by the Trail Dies reference as 2008P-1DEO-010T, this trail die obverse variety was discovered by Bill Glenn of Florida on a 2008 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Memorial cent. The 2008 cent, produced in the copper-plated zinc composition weighing 2.5 grams with a 19 mm diameter, represents the final year of Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse before the 2009 Bicentennial changeover. The trail die impression occurs at an orientation of 200 degrees relative to the coin's axis, providing a precise positional diagnostic for the ghost image. Two distinct die stages have been documented for this variety. Stage A shows both the obverse and reverse in late early die state with no notable die markers, representing the earliest coins struck from this die. Stage B shows the die in mid-die state with two die cracks, accompanied by die chips, visible in the back of Lincoln's head on the obverse. The reverse at Stage B displays a die crack through the L, U, and R of PLURIBUS and an additional die crack through the first U of UNUM, indicating progressive die deterioration. The progression from Stage A to Stage B allows collectors to establish a chronological sequence for specimens and assess the relative scarcity of earlier versus later die state examples. Trail die varieties result from accidental die-to-die contact during die manufacturing, storage, or press setup, and the 200-degree orientation measurement provides an objective diagnostic that helps distinguish this particular trail die impression from other varieties that may appear on the same date and mint. Bill Glenn's discovery in Florida represents the citizen-numismatist contribution that drives trail die variety documentation, where individual collectors examining circulation finds or mint set coins identify previously unknown die varieties.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bill Glenn
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References