1993D-1DER-005 Trail Die Reverse

Description

Carrying no suffix — neither WS nor T — the 005 represents the mildest trail die category in the 1993-D census. Its plain designation means the die exhibited only minimal lateral displacement, insufficient to produce the pronounced wavy steps or tilted trail lines that earn the WS or T suffixes. The sole indicator is light step deviation confined to columns 6 and 7, a narrow two-column span compared to the four- or five-column spreads on the stronger WS varieties. This subtlety makes the 005 harder to identify in hand, demanding careful examination of the Memorial's stepped base under magnification. Despite the understated trail die effect, the die markers are abundant: the obverse shows a small die gouge on Lincoln's shoulder and another below the lapel, while the reverse carries a die chip on the upper part of column 2 and three die gouges under the U of UNITED. Five distinct markers across two surfaces make the 005 one of the more confidently attributable varieties, even though its trail die signature is among the least dramatic. Cataloged at Stage B mid-die-state. Struck at Denver on copper-plated zinc planchets, 2.5 grams, 19mm, plain edge.

External References