LDB4-1956D-003 BIE Die Break

Description

Cross-referenced as Hardy 56D-4EL+1 (with Cohen Not Listed), this BIE die break on the 1956-D Lincoln Wheat Cent was documented on March 9, 2016. The "BIE" designation refers to a specific class of die break on Lincoln Cents where a crack or break occurs in the die between the letters B and E of LIBERTY, creating a raised vertical line on the struck coin that resembles the letter I — hence "B-I-E." The Hardy catalog designation "56D-4EL+1" carries diagnostic meaning: the "4" indicates the break is in position 4 (between the I and E of LIBERTY), "EL" denotes that the break extends to the level of the letter extremities, and the "+1" notation indicates the break extends three-quarters of the way below the lowest level of the letters — providing a quantitative measure of the break's vertical extent that helps distinguish this particular die break from others at the same position. The Cohen catalog, another standard reference for BIE breaks, does not list this specific variety (noted as "Not Listed"), meaning Hardy's documentation serves as the primary attribution reference. The 1956-D Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the Denver Mint in the traditional bronze composition (95% copper, 5% tin-and-zinc) at 3.11 grams with a 19 mm diameter — just two years before the 1958 end of the Wheat Ears reverse design introduced by Victor David Brenner in 1909. BIE breaks occur because the die steel between adjacent letters of LIBERTY, which forms a thin wall in the negative (incuse) die cavity, is susceptible to metal fatigue cracking under the repeated stress of striking. The raised "I" between B and E provides a visually distinctive error that is typically visible to the unaided eye and confirmable at 5x magnification.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Juan Aguerre
• Cross references: Cohen Not Listed, Hardy 56D-4EL+1. 03/09/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References