1981P-1DER-001T Trail Die Reverse

Description

Complementing the trail die obverse variety from the same year, 1981P-1DER-001T documents a trail die error on the reverse of the 1981 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent — a striking anomaly where the reverse die slid across the planchet during impact, producing a displaced secondary impression of the Lincoln Memorial design. Trail die errors rank among the rarest mechanically-produced varieties in the Lincoln cent series because they require a specific and unusual press malfunction: the die must move laterally relative to the planchet during the fraction of a second that the strike occurs, leaving enough displaced metal to create a visible trail image without completely obliterating the primary impression. This variety is documented in Stage C with both obverse and reverse in late die state. The obverse carries diagonal die scratches visible through the IBER of LIBERTY, while the reverse shows a diagonal die gouge running through the CA of AMERICA — both markers useful for authentication. This trail die was discovered by Michael Pope, whose find added a reverse trail die companion to the obverse variety cataloged for the same date. Struck from 95% copper planchets at the Philadelphia Mint. Attribution by Trail Dies.

Die Markers

• Stage “C”, obverse is LDS – diagonal die scratches can be seen thru the IBER of LIBERTY.
• Reverse is LDS – a diagonal die gouge runs through the CA of AMERICA.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Michael Pope
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References