LDB5-1954D-001 BIE Die Break

Description

Setting this variety apart from every other entry in this batch is the LDB5 prefix — indicating position 5 between LIBERTY's letters rather than the position 4 that dominates the preceding sixteen entries. Position 5 corresponds to a different letter pair in the LIBERTY inscription, meaning the raised bar appears between a separate pair of adjacent letters than where position-4 breaks occur. Hardy code 54D-SCL+ uses "SCL" (Small Center-Left) without the "4" prefix, reflecting the position-5 classification. The "Small" designation indicates a compact raised feature, and "Center-Left" places it in the central-left zone of the interstitial space. As the first documented position-5 BIE for the 1954 Denver Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent, die 001 establishes the baseline for this uncommon position class on the date. The Cohen Index has not cataloged this variety. Position-5 BIE breaks are inherently less common than position-4, making any LDB5 variety a notable addition to a comprehensive BIE collection. Denver's 1954 cent production of 251.6 million pieces was far more modest than the billion-plus runs of the late 1950s, lending additional scarcity to die varieties from this date. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this LDB5 variety broadens the positional range of documented 1954-D BIE die breaks.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross references: Cohen Not Listed, Hardy 54D-SCL+. 11/17/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References