2008P-1DEO-013T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Trail dies result when a worn die is kept in production beyond its serviceable life, generating raised streaks or smears across struck coins as the failing die surface drags through the striking process. 2008P-1DEO-013T documents a trail die obverse on the 2008-P Lincoln Memorial Cent, discovered by David Miller. At Stage B (early-to-mid die state, designated EMDS): the obverse shows several large die cracks running through Lincoln's hair and forehead — prominent markers of advanced die deterioration; the reverse exhibits a die chip in the lower portion of column 2 and a smaller die chip in the lower portion of column 3. The die cracks through Lincoln's portrait are characteristic of a die approaching the terminal trail die stage, where continued striking will produce increasingly prominent raised metal streaks and flow lines across the coin's surface. The 2008-P Lincoln Memorial Cent was struck in copper-plated zinc at the Philadelphia Mint under Frank Gasparro's reverse with Victor David Brenner's Lincoln portrait. The T suffix confirms this variety's classification as a confirmed trail die type within the Trail Dies reference.

Die Markers

• Stage “B”, obverse is EMDS – several large die cracks are seen in Lincolns hair and forehead.
• Reverse is EMDS – a die chip is seen in the lower part of column 2. Another smaller die chip is seen in the lower portion of column 3.

Attribution History

• Discovered by David Miller
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References