LDB2345-1950-001 Die Break

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins and cross-referenced as Cohen 50-BA7 (Hardy Not Listed, documented 03/15/2017), this die break variety on the 1950 Proof Lincoln Wheat Cent is designated a "LIIIBIEIR" in the Cuds on Coins numbering system, which translates to LDB2345 — a comprehensive multi-letter die break affecting the letters L, I, B, E, I, R in LIBERTY. This type of extensive die break spanning multiple adjacent letters indicates a significant structural failure along a section of the die face, where a continuous crack propagated through the letter positions creating raised, distorted metal on the corresponding area of the struck coin. The 1950 proof Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the Philadelphia Mint on 95% copper and 5% tin-and-zinc planchets weighing 3.11 grams with a diameter of 19.05 mm. As a proof issue, this coin was produced on polished planchets with specially prepared dies for inclusion in the 1950 proof set, of which approximately 51,386 were manufactured — making the 1950 proof set one of the lower-mintage post-war proof issues. The Cohen 50-BA7 cross-reference places this variety within the specialized die break classification system developed for Lincoln Cent varieties, while its absence from the Hardy reference (Hardy Not Listed) indicates it was not included in that particular catalog. Die breaks on proof coins are particularly noteworthy because the lower production volumes and more careful quality control at the proof facility mean that significant die failures are less common than on business strikes, and specimens showing major breaks may have been produced in very small quantities before the damaged die was identified and removed from service.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Keith Christenson
• Cross references: Cohen 50-BA7, Hardy Not Listed. 03/15/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References