LDB4-1956-015 BIE Die Break

Description

Fifteenth BIE die break documented at Hardy position 4 on the 1956 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent, this variety carries dual cross-references: the Cohen catalog lists it as "Not Listed," while the Hardy system assigns it the designation 56P-4F+, indicating it falls within the position 4 zone with a specific sub-position modifier. The discrepancy between Cohen and Hardy attributions is informative — it suggests this variety was documented through the Hardy classification system after the Cohen reference was published, or that its characteristics fall outside Cohen's inclusion criteria while meeting Hardy's broader documentation standards. BIE die breaks on Lincoln Cents form when a die crack develops between the letters B and E in the word LIBERTY, creating a raised vertical line on struck coins that resembles an extra letter "I" in the inscription. The Hardy classification organizes these breaks by precise position within the B-E space, and position 4 with the F+ modifier narrows the location to a specific sub-zone. The 1956-P Wheat Cent was produced in the third-to-last year of the wheat ears reverse design, and fifteen documented BIE breaks at a single Hardy position demonstrates both the high volume of die pairs consumed during this penultimate period and the systematic deterioration patterns that affected dies in the LIBERTY area. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, LDB4-1956-015 contributes to the comprehensive record of die stress failure on late-era Wheat Cents, a body of evidence that reveals consistent fracture patterns across years and mint facilities.

Attribution History

• Discovered by JC Stevens
• Cross references: Cohen Not Listed, Hardy 56P-4F+.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References