1984P-1DEO-003T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Found by Louis Schaeffer, 1984P-1DEO-003T represents the third trail die obverse variety documented for the 1984 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent. Classified at Stage C, both dies had entered a late die state when the diagnostic markers were recorded, meaning accumulated die wear accompanies the trail die evidence. The obverse displays two distinct markers: die damage below the first T of TRUST and a die dot situated between the 9 and 8 digits in the date. The die dot between date numerals is a particularly useful diagnostic because it occupies a location that a collector's eye naturally examines when reading the date, increasing the likelihood of detection during casual inspection. No significant reverse markers were noted for this die pair, which means identification depends primarily on the obverse diagnostics. Trail die varieties occupy an interesting niche in error-variety numismatics, documenting not a failure of the striking process but rather the industrial handling of dies in a high-volume mint environment. With over 8.15 billion cents produced at Philadelphia in 1984, the number of die pairs cycled through the presses was extraordinary, and each pair's journey from manufacture to installation provided opportunities for the incidental contact that creates trail die impressions. Struck on copper-plated zinc planchets at 2.5 grams.

Die Markers

• Stage “C”, obverse is LDS – die damage is seen below the first T of TRUST. A die dot is seen between the 9 and 8 digits in the date.
• Reverse is LDS – none noted.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Louis Schaeffer
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References