1993D-1DER-010WS Trail Die Reverse

Description

What makes the 010WS especially interesting to die failure specialists is the notation "die break forming in column 4" — a snapshot of active structural failure caught in progress. Most die breaks appear in catalogs as accomplished facts, but this entry documents the transitional moment when a crack has propagated far enough to begin displacing metal without yet producing a full break or cud. Watching a break develop across sequential die states is one of the few ways researchers can study the mechanics of die failure in real time, since no one has access to the dies themselves after they leave the Mint. A die dent on the left side of column 1 provides a second reverse marker. The trail die effect includes light fluting under column 3 and strong step deviation under columns 5 through 8 at a 190-degree offset, with additional light step deviation visible under the left post — an unusual location, since most step deviation concentrates under the building's central columns rather than extending to the flanking posts. At Stage B mid-die-state, the obverse shows no notable markers. Struck at Denver on copper-plated zinc planchets, 2.5 grams, 19mm, plain edge.

External References