LDB4-1954S-008 BIE Die Break

Description

Eight distinct BIE dies documented for the 1954 San Francisco Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent is a notable count for a mint that produced far fewer cents than Denver during this period. This eighth die carries Hardy Index 54S-4F+, placing the raised bar at the front sub-position of the BIE zone between B and E of LIBERTY with additional features. The front placement means the break sits closer to the B side of the inter-letter space, and the "+" suffix indicates secondary deterioration beyond the primary BIE crack. BIE die breaks on Lincoln Wheat Cents form when vertical stress fractures develop in the recessed die areas between the letters of LIBERTY — the spaces between these incuse letters concentrate mechanical stress during striking, making them natural sites for crack initiation. Not yet cataloged in the Cohen Index, this variety currently relies on its Hardy classification as the primary reference. San Francisco's cent production during 1954 was modest compared to Denver's output, making each documented S-mint BIE die proportionally more significant to the research record. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, die 008 joins a small but meaningful cluster of BIE varieties from one of San Francisco's final years of circulation cent production.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Earl M
• Cross references: Cohen Not Listed, Hardy 54S-4F+. 07/17/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References