1990P-1DER-005WS Trail Die Reverse

Description

Offset at 160 degrees, 1990P-1DER-005WS on the 1990 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent exhibits faint step deviation extending almost to the last step under columns 6, 7, and 8 of the Memorial design. The qualification "almost to the last step" is a precise attribution detail — it indicates the trail die impression was strong enough to distort multiple steps of the Memorial staircase but attenuated before reaching the lowest visible step, suggesting marginal contact pressure during the die-set event. Examined at Stage C late die state (LDS), diagnostic markers include an old gouge to the left of IN, a small gouge under the N of UNITED, and a die crack extending from the left cornice to the rim. The die crack from left cornice to rim follows a common fracture path on Lincoln Memorial reverse dies, where the cornice — the horizontal projection at the top of the Memorial building — creates a stress concentration in the die steel that frequently initiates radial cracking toward the rim. The "old gouge" designation for the IN marker suggests this imperfection predates the examined die state and has been present since early in the die's service life. Struck at Philadelphia on copper-plated zinc planchets composed of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper, weighing 2.5 grams and measuring 19mm. DIE MARKERS : Stage “C”, obverse is LDS – old die gouge to the left of IN. Reverse is LDS – small die gouge under the N of UNITED.

External References