1987D-1DEO-001T Trail Die Obverse

Description

An unusual late die state specimen with plating problems, 1987D-1DEO-001T on the 1987-D Lincoln Memorial cent exhibits trail die effects combined with evidence of copper shell separation from the zinc core — a planchet-level defect that compounds the die-level deterioration. Trail lines emanate from the top of the letters BERT in LIBERTY, showing the directional metal flow on the die surface that characterizes trail die varieties: as a die ages under millions of high-pressure strikes, its working surface metal shifts incrementally, creating shelf-like ridges that transfer as raised trail lines on struck coins. The late die state classification is confirmed by Stage C die markers on the obverse, including a die scratch on the lower terminus of the S in TRUST, which provides an independent attribution checkpoint beyond the trail die effects themselves. On the reverse, also in late die state, an old die gouge appears to the right of the D in UNITED — a pre-existing surface defect on the reverse die that further anchors this die pair's identification. The combination of a deteriorated die producing trail lines and a planchet experiencing copper-to-zinc delamination creates a numismatic specimen that documents two distinct failure modes simultaneously. Struck at Denver on copper-plated zinc planchets (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) at 2.5 grams and 19mm, from the 1987-D mintage of 4,007,632,740 cents.

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