1988P-1DEO-008T Trail Die Obverse

Description

The eighth trail die obverse cataloged for the 1988 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent, 1988P-1DEO-008T was found by Cal Goddard, who contributed four of the ten known trail die obverses for this date. Trail dies are created during the die-making process when the hub — the positive master from which working dies are produced — makes imperfect contact with the die blank, leaving faint offset traces of design elements. The "T" suffix classifies this as a tilted trail die, where the hub tilted on its axis during the hubbing impression rather than shifting laterally or rotating. The obverse in Stage A (early die state) shows no significant markers beyond the trail impression itself. On the reverse, also in early die state, light die scratching appears around the ST of STATES and a die gouge sits to the bottom left of the T in CENT. The concentration of reverse markers around STATES and CENT creates a localized attribution zone on the lower reverse that experienced collectors can check efficiently when screening potential trail die specimens. Early die state documentation for trail dies is particularly important because the subtle trail impressions are most visible before die wear, polishing, and clash damage accumulate to obscure or overwrite the original hubbing artifacts. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint on copper-plated zinc planchets at 2.5 grams and 19mm.

Die Markers

• Stage “A“, obverse is EDS – none noted
• Reverse is EDS – light die scratching can be seen around the ST of STATES. A die gouge is seen to the bottom left of the T in CENT.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Cal Goddard
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References