1983D-1DEO-001T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Discovered by Bill Slaughter of Arkansas, 1983D-1DEO-001T preserves a trail die impression on the obverse of the 1983 Denver Lincoln Memorial cent — one of the first copper-plated zinc issues to carry the D mintmark following the mid-1982 composition transition. Trail die varieties arise when remnants of a previous design or hubbing impression linger on a die that has undergone re-hubbing, leaving faint ghost-like traces of design elements that should not appear on the finished product. This specimen is documented at Stage B, with the obverse in a mid-die-state showing no significant diagnostic markers, while the reverse — also at mid-die-state — exhibits die scratches on the left side of columns 11 and 12 of the Lincoln Memorial. These reverse die scratches serve as essential attribution diagnostics, allowing researchers to match any newly discovered specimen to this specific die pair by examining the columnar region of the memorial facade under magnification. The Denver Mint's high-volume 1983 cent production consumed enormous numbers of dies, and the die preparation process — including multiple hubbing impressions — created occasional opportunities for incomplete design transfer that manifests as the subtle trail die effect cataloged here. Attribution by Trail Dies.

Die Markers

• Stage “B”, obverse is MDS – none noted.
• Reverse is MDS – die scratches on the left side of columns 11 and 12.
• This die was found by
• Bill Slaughter
• of Arkansas.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bill Slaughter
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References