LDB3-1989-001 BIE Die Break

Description

The LDB3-1989-001 BIE die break is a distinctive Lincoln cent variety where a die crack or die chip between the letters B and E in LIBERTY creates a raised vertical line that visually resembles a capital letter I — making the word appear to read "BIERTY" instead of "LIBERTY." BIE die breaks are exclusive to the Lincoln cent series and are among the most popular and recognizable die varieties collected across all U.S. coinage, prized for their visual clarity and the charming optical illusion they produce. The LDB3 prefix stands for Lincoln Die Break class 3, a cataloging designation that classifies the size and type of the die break within a structured taxonomy. Cross-referenced with a Hardy Index classification of 3F+, this variety's prominence rating indicates a moderately strong to strong BIE impression — the F grade denoting a well-formed vertical element, and the + suffix indicating it exceeds the baseline for that grade. Reported on 09/28/2015, this variety was documented and added to the registry over twenty-five years after the coins were struck, a timeline consistent with the ongoing nature of BIE discovery from circulation and roll searching. The 1989-P cent's massive mintage of over 7.2 billion coins ensures that BIE varieties for this date, while scarce relative to total production, remain discoverable by dedicated searchers. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint on a copper-plated zinc planchet (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) at 2.5 grams and 19mm diameter.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Barry Godwin
• Cross references: Hardy Index 3F+. 09/28/2015.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References