1993D-1DER-016T Trail Die Reverse

Description

Jeremy Gardner of Kentucky documented one of the most extensively distributed trail line patterns in the 1993-D census. At a 030-degree offset — nearly due northeast — trail lines radiate from an unusually wide array of design elements: light to moderate trails from the E PLURIBUS UNUM letters, distortion on the TES of STATES, trails on the MER of AMERICA and CE of CENT, and additional lines along the cornice top and right-side columns. Most T-suffix varieties show trail lines from one or two legend elements, but the 016T's shallow angle caught every raised feature within a broad swath of the reverse die, dragging fine streaks across lettering, moldings, and column capitals alike. Reverse markers include a small die gouge between the M and E of AMERICA and a gouge in the upper triangle of the N of ONE. The obverse shows no notable markers at Stage B mid-die-state. Gardner's discovery demonstrated how a single unusual offset angle can transform a familiar reverse into a complex web of directional artifacts, each trail line pointing toward the same 030-degree bearing. Struck at Denver on copper-plated zinc planchets, 2.5 grams, 19mm, plain edge.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jeremy Gardner
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References