1991P-1DER-002WS Trail Die Reverse

Description

Distinguished by a 180-degree offset trail die effect, 1991P-1DER-002WS on the 1991 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent shows light fluting under columns 2 and 3 along with a light step deviation at columns 6, 7, and 8 with emphasis to the left. These trail impressions — faint ghost images of design elements rotated half a turn from their normal positions — result from a secondary strike or die contact event where the relative orientation between the dies was inverted from the standard alignment. The Stage B Mid Die State (MDS) designation places this coin in the middle of the die's production life. Obverse die markers include gouges near the first 9 of the date and two scratches to the right of Lincoln's bow tie, while the reverse carries gouges under the right Memorial base. The 180-degree offset is among the most common trail die orientations because it corresponds to a die installed in its socket rotated exactly half a turn — a straightforward mechanical error during die changeover that would produce design vestiges in diametrically opposite positions from their intended locations. 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 “B”, obverse is MDS – small die gouges by the first 9 of the DATE. Two die scratches to the right of the bow tie. Reverse is MDS – die gouges under the right Memorial building base.

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