LDB4-1952D-001 BIE Die Break

Description

Recently cataloged in 2023, this BIE die break on the 1952 Denver Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent carries the unusual Hardy position code 4SDM — Small Down-Middle — a less common sub-classification indicating the raised bar is both small in size and located in the down-middle zone between LIBERTY's letters. The Small prefix distinguishes this break from full-size BIE bars, suggesting the die chip or crack was relatively minor, producing a more subtle raised feature than the prominent bars found on heavily deteriorated dies. As the first documented BIE variety for 1952-D, this die establishes the baseline for the date-mint combination in the Hardy catalog. The 1952-D cent was produced in quantity — 746.1 million struck at Denver — yet BIE documentation for the date began only recently, reflecting the ongoing nature of variety discovery decades after the coins entered circulation. The Cohen Index has not yet listed this variety, leaving the Hardy code as the sole attribution reference. BIE collectors actively seek newly cataloged varieties, and a 2023 addition to a 70-year-old coin demonstrates that systematic die examination continues to yield new finds.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Tim Glover
• Cross references: Cohen Not Listed, Hardy 52D-4SDM. 08/14/2023.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References