1987 (P) Lincoln Memorial Cent - P-1DER-012WS Trail Die Reverse

Description

On 1987P-1DER-012WS the Memorial's stairs bend heavily to moderately beneath columns 4 through 8, and on the right the fluting lines of columns 10, 11 and 12 run strongly down into the stylobate. All of it heads to 170°, south with a slight lean east. The prefix 1987P-1DER names the year, Philadelphia, the cent and TrailDies' reverse design extension category; 012 is the file and WS means wavy steps, trails that run over the stairs so they seem to bend. TrailDies cautions that the condition of the coin it describes makes the full extent hard to judge, and it hopes a nicer piece turns up. That late-stage coin shows heavy horizontal scratching around Lincoln's bust and, on the reverse, across the motto and over ONE CENT. Louis Schaeffer reported it. The usual explanation is polishing of the die with a rotary tool; a minority view has the die moving against the hub.

External References