LDB4-1954S-005A BIE Die Break

Description

A dual-variety Lincoln Wheat Cent from the San Francisco Mint, LDB4-1954S-005A combines a BIE die break with a repunched mintmark on the same coin. The BIE designation refers to a small die crack or break between the letters B and E of LIBERTY on the obverse, producing what appears to be a tiny raised letter "I" standing between its neighbors — one of the most recognizable and widely collected die-break types in the Lincoln Cent series. This specimen carries cross-references to Hardy 54S-4BL and CONECA 1954-S RPM-004, establishing it as a die that also exhibits a repunched S mintmark — two independent varieties originating from the same working die. Cohen noted the BIE variety but did not assign a formal listing number in his index. The convergence of a BIE break and an RPM on a single die is uncommon, as it requires both a die-preparation error during mintmark application and subsequent die fatigue during striking — two unrelated failure modes captured on one piece of steel. Collectors who encounter this variety find a coin that satisfies two specialty areas simultaneously: the BIE die break collector and the RPM variety researcher.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jason Dick
• Cross references: Cohen noted not listed, Hardy 54S-4BL and CONECA 1954-S RPM-004.  04/04/2022..
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References