LDB4-1955D-007 BIE Die Break

Description

Seventh BIE die break at Hardy position 4 for the 1955 Denver Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent, this variety carries a Hardy classification with the suffix "4FL+" and Cohen listing noted as "Not Listed" at the time of July 2015 documentation. The "FL+" Hardy suffix indicates a specific fracture geometry: "F" positions the break at the primary position 4 sub-location, "L" designates the lower portion of the break zone, and the "+" indicates the fracture extends beyond the basic lower classification threshold. Seven BIE die breaks at position 4 for the 1955-D is a moderate count, significantly below the hundreds documented for 1957-D at the same position but consistent with the 1955-D's lower mintage of approximately 563 million cents. The 1955-D Wheat Cent is often overshadowed by its Philadelphia counterpart — the 1955 Doubled Die Obverse originated at Philadelphia, not Denver — but Denver's 1955 production still generated sufficient die pairs for notable die break documentation. The "FL+" geometry indicates a fracture that primarily occupies the lower half of the space between B and E but extends somewhat beyond the lower boundary, creating a raised bar on struck coins that is taller than a basic lower break but does not reach the full height of the letter space. Hardy's graduated classification system captures these geometric distinctions with precision that enables researchers to compare fracture patterns across dates and mints. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this variety contributes to the documentation of position 4 BIE die breaks across the mid-1950s Wheat Cent dates, providing data points between the heavily documented 1957 terminals and the earlier years of the series.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross references: Cohen Not Listed, Hardy 4FL+. 07/13/2015.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References