2012P-1DEO-017T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Found by Mark Britton, this trail die obverse variety appears on the 2012 Philadelphia Lincoln Shield cent. When a previously struck coin re-enters the coining press and is struck by a different die pair, the result is a trail die showing a ghost image from the original strike beneath the dominant impression. The obverse carries the trail image in this instance. Documented in Stage B with both sides in mid-die state, no notable obverse markers were recorded. The reverse MDS shows a die crack on the upper left edge of the shield above the letters PLURI of PLURIBUS, providing the primary attribution diagnostic. Die cracks along the shield border are common on Shield cent reverse dies because the geometric design concentrates stress at angular transitions, making the shield perimeter a frequent site of die failure. The 2012 Philadelphia cent was produced in large quantities, and trail die varieties from Shield cent production are gradually being cataloged as collectors examine this relatively new design type introduced only two years earlier in 2010.

Die Markers

• Stage “B“, obverse is MDS – none noted.
• Reverse is MDS – a die crack is seen on the upper left edge of the shield above the letters PLURI of PLURIBUS.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Mark Britton
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References