LDB345678-1951-001C BIE Die Break

Description

Spanning multiple letter positions between B and E in LIBERTY, this BIE die break on a 1951 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent is cross-referenced as Cohen 51-B97 and Hardy 51P-3-8Mul+1 — with an intriguing conditional: if the crack stops at Y rather than extending beyond, the applicable Hardy designation shifts to 51P-3-7Mul+1. This conditional classification reflects the precision of BIE research, where the exact extent of a die crack determines which catalog entry applies. The "345678" in the LDB catalog prefix indicates the crack traverses multiple positional zones within the LIBERTY inscription, making this a broader fracture than a typical single-position BIE. A BIE die break forms when a vertical crack develops in the die between the letters B and E of LIBERTY, filling with metal during striking to produce a raised bar resembling an extra letter I. The "Mul+" Hardy suffix designates a multi-position crack extending beyond the primary zone, and the "+1" indicates the number of additional positions involved. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins with dual Cohen and Hardy cross-references, this 1951-P variety exemplifies the granular precision of BIE die break classification.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross references: Cohen 51-B97, Hardy 51P-3-8Mul+1. If crack stops at “Y” 51P-3-7Mul+1. 03/04/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References