1955 (D) Lincoln Wheat Cent - BIE 001

Description

Among the most accessible and recognizable die varieties in the Lincoln Cent series, BIE die breaks form when a chip develops in the die between the letters B and E of LIBERTY, leaving a raised area on the struck coin that resembles the letter "I" inserted between them. BIE-001 on the 1955-D Lincoln Wheat Cent represents the first cataloged example from this prolific Denver date. BIE die chips are very common on 1955-D cents, a consequence of Denver's high production volume that year consuming a large population of obverse dies, each susceptible to localized fatigue in the recessed LIBERTY lettering. The BIE collecting specialty has attracted a dedicated following within the Lincoln Cent community because the varieties are visually distinctive, affordable, and span nearly every date in the series. Each BIE is unique in its size, shape, and precise position between the B and E, making individual catalog entries distinguishable even when dozens exist for a single date-mint combination. Denver Mint production.