2012P-1DEO-019T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Discovered by Mark Britton and cataloged by Trail Dies, the 2012P-1DEO-019T is a trail die obverse variety found on the Philadelphia-minted Lincoln Shield Cent. Trail dies are a specialized category of die error produced when a hub or die leaves faint, displaced ghost impressions of design elements on the struck coin, typically caused by incomplete or offset contact during the die-making process. The Lincoln Shield Cent, introduced in 2010 with Lyndall Bass's Union Shield reverse honoring Lincoln's preservation of the Union, is struck in copper-plated zinc at 2.50 grams and 19.05 mm diameter. Die markers for this variety place it at Stage B with the obverse at Mid Die State showing no notable markers, while the reverse at MDS displays a die crack with die chips on the upper left edge of the shield above the letters LURI of PLURIBUS. These reverse die chips along the shield's upper perimeter serve as the primary authentication diagnostic for confirming this specific die pair, since trail die features can sometimes be subtle and require corroborating evidence from other die markers. The progression of the die crack with accompanying chips suggests this die was in active mid-life service when the trail die characteristics were produced, rather than being an early die state anomaly from the initial hubbing process.

Die Markers

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

Attribution History

• Discovered by MARK BRITTON
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References