2014P-1DER-004T Trail Die Reverse

Description

Discovered by Vivien Bullard and documented in the Trail Dies catalog, the 2014P-1DER-004T is a trail die reverse variety found on a 2014 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Shield Cent. Die marker documentation at Stage B identifies the obverse at MDS with no noted markers, while the reverse at MDS displays two distinct die cracks: one entering the field from the apex of the shield and another entering the field from the upper left edge of the shield. These dual die cracks radiating from different points on the shield design are significant because the shield's geometric edges create natural stress concentration points in the die steel, and their simultaneous presence indicates the reverse die was experiencing multi-directional structural fatigue during this stage of its service life. Trail die varieties result from an unintended secondary die impression during manufacturing or press configuration, producing a subtle ghost image displaced from the primary design — a phenomenon that requires careful examination under magnification to distinguish from die deterioration doubling, which can mimic some trail die characteristics. The Lincoln Shield Cent was designed by Lyndall Bass for the reverse, featuring a Union shield with thirteen vertical stripes beneath a scroll bearing ONE CENT, while Victor David Brenner's obverse Lincoln portrait has been in continuous use since 1909. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint in copper-plated zinc composition (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) weighing 2.5 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter, the 2014-P cent was produced in quantities exceeding several billion, making individually scarce die varieties like this trail die statistically possible yet challenging to locate through hand searching.

Die Markers

• Stage “B“, obverse is MDS – none noted.
• Reverse is MDS – a light die crack is seen entering into the field from the apex of the shield. Another die crack is seen entering the field from the upper left edge of the shield.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Vivien Bullard
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References