LDB4-1956-023B Die Break

Description

Cross-referenced as Cohen 56B643 and Hardy 56P-4F+19, this die break on the 1956 Proof Lincoln Wheat Cent documents a four-segment face break with an additional nineteenth segment — a classification within the Hardy system that maps the precise geometry of the fracture across the obverse die. The 4F designation indicates the break traverses four primary segments of the face area, while the +19 suffix records an extension into segment nineteen, showing that the crack propagated beyond the main fracture zone into adjacent die steel. Cohen's catalog lists this as 56B643, placing it within the broader census of 1956 proof cent die breaks. Proof Lincoln Wheat Cents from 1956 were struck at the Philadelphia Mint on polished planchets using specially prepared dies, and die breaks on proof coins carry particular significance because the controlled striking environment means each fracture represents genuine die failure rather than the gradual wear seen in business-strike production. The mirror-like fields of proof surfaces render die breaks with exceptional clarity, making even minor cracks sharply visible against the reflective background.

Attribution History

• Cross references: LDB4-1956-023B, Cohen 56B643, Hardy 56P-4F+19.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References