LDB3-1955D-002 BIE Die Break

Description

Bearing Hardy attribution 55D-3SBL and unrecorded in the Cohen catalog, this second documented BIE die break on the 1955 Denver Wheat Cent occupies the third space in LIBERTY with a semi break positioned on the left side. The position code 3SBL — lacking the "+2" extension suffix seen on the companion 001A variety — indicates the crack is confined to a narrower vertical extent within the letter gap. A semi die break means the fracture has partially traversed the space between B and E without spanning the full height, creating a raised bar shorter than a full BIE. The distinction between semi and full breaks is critical to the Hardy cataloging system, which classifies BIE varieties by position, break completeness, and lateral orientation. Both the 001A and 002 dies developed fractures in the same letter space but produced diagnostically distinct break profiles, demonstrating how small differences in die steel composition or crack initiation point lead to unique varieties. The 1955 Denver Mint operated at high capacity producing Wheat Cents during the denomination's closing years with this reverse design.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross references: Cohen Not Listed, Hardy 55D-3SBL. 10/16/2015.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References