LDB234-1949D-001 BIE Die Break

Description

First documented BIE die break at Hardy positions 2, 3, and 4 combined for the 1949 Denver Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent, LDB234-1949D-001 displays the characteristic raised vertical bar between B and E of LIBERTY that gives the BIE designation its name. The unusual "LDB234" prefix indicates this BIE spans multiple Hardy positions — positions 2, 3, and 4 in the classification system — suggesting a wider-than-typical die crack that extends across a broader section of the letter spacing between B and E. Standard BIEs are classified at a single Hardy position, making multi-position BIEs a less common variant that reflects a more extensive die fracture. Cross-references to both the Cohen and Hardy catalogs return "not listed" entries, indicating this variety was not documented in either reference at the time of cataloging on April 15, 2018, by Cuds on Coins. The 1949 Denver Mint Wheat Cent was produced during the post-war years of strong coin demand, as the expanding American economy required robust circulating coinage supplies. BIE die breaks form when a vertical crack develops in the die between the letters B and E, and the resulting fissure fills with metal during each subsequent strike to produce the raised bar visible on the finished coin. The multi-position nature of LDB234-1949D-001 suggests the die crack was longer than typical single-position BIEs, potentially extending through the full width of the inter-letter space and engaging the adjacent Hardy positional zones on either side.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Keith Christenson
• Cross references: Cohen not listed, Hardy 49D-not listed. 04/15/2018.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References