LDB123446-1941-001 BIE Die Break

Description

Among the most extraordinary BIE die breaks cataloged on any Lincoln Wheat Cent, this 1941 Philadelphia Mint specimen carries the remarkable Hardy code 123446 — a multi-position designation spanning nearly the entire LIBERTY inscription. Where typical BIE breaks affect a single position between two letters, this die developed fractures across positions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, indicating catastrophic deterioration that left raised material between multiple letter pairs simultaneously. The Cohen Index confirms this variety as 41-BA1, independently verifying its existence in a second major reference system. BIE die breaks are named for the visual effect they produce: a raised vertical line between LIBERTY's letters, most commonly resembling an extra "I" between B and E — though multi-position breaks like this one create a far more dramatic appearance. The 1941 Philadelphia Mint was operating at wartime-era production levels, consuming dies at an accelerated pace. A die developing breaks across five of the six possible LIBERTY positions represents an exceptional failure, making this one of the most visually impactful BIE varieties in the series.

Attribution History

• Cross references: Cohen 41-BA1, LDB123446-1941-001. 01/11/2019.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References