1987D-1DER-005T Trail Die Reverse

Description

Found by Jeremy Gardner, 1987D-1DER-005T on the 1987-D Lincoln Memorial cent presents one of the more visually dramatic trail die reverses in the census, with a 60-degree offset producing distortion and extra thickness on EPU along with distinct trail lines on TE of UNITED, ST of STATES, and MER of AMERICA. The 60-degree bearing angles the trail toward the upper right of the die face, sweeping across multiple legend elements in the upper reverse arc — a geometry that scatters visible effects across a wide portion of the coin's periphery rather than concentrating them in a single zone. Extra thickness on the EPU lettering indicates the secondary hub impression reinforced the letter strokes in the offset direction, building up additional metal on the die surface that transfers as heavier-than-normal relief on struck coins. The trail lines on TE, ST, and MER follow the 60-degree vector, appearing as faint secondary images extending from these letter groups in the direction of hub travel. Stage B at mid-die state is documented, with the mint mark position serving as the die marker on the obverse — a practical approach when the D mint mark's precise placement within its punch site provides sufficient diagnostic variation from die to die. No specific markers are noted on the reverse beyond the trail effects themselves. 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.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jeremy Gardner
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References