LDB4-1957-074 Die Break

Description

Seventy-four cataloged die breaks for a single proof date represents an extraordinary depth of documentation, reflecting decades of collector examination of 1957 Proof Lincoln Wheat Cents. LDB4-1957-074 records an interior die break where a fracture developed within the die face, creating raised features on the struck proof coin that trace the path of the die's structural failure. Proof dies endured concentrated striking pressure at slower speeds to achieve the mirror finishes and sharp details collectors expected, and this repeated stress made them susceptible to interior fractures that might not occur under standard business strike conditions. The 1957 date sits in the final two years of Wheat Cent production, and proof sets from this period were widely purchased and carefully preserved, giving researchers an extensive population of surviving specimens to examine for die anomalies. Cross-referenced as Cohen NL (Not Listed) and Hardy 57P-4F+. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins for the Lincoln Wheat Cents 1909-1958 series.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Pete Apple
• Cross references: Cohen NL, Hardy 57P-4F+. 09/22/2025.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References