1993P-1DER-031WS Trail Die Reverse

Description

Continuing the sequential numbering from the 1993 Denver trail die census — where entries 001 through 030 document Denver Mint reverses — 1993P-1DER-031WS marks the beginning of the Philadelphia trail die reverse series for 1993. Combined, the two mints produced at least 43 documented trail die reverses plus one trail die obverse, an extraordinary census that makes 1993 one of the most extensively documented years for trail die varieties in the entire Lincoln Memorial cent series. The "WS" suffix denotes "wavy steps," referring to the visible trail line effects on the Memorial staircase, which is the most common area where trail die evidence manifests because the horizontal step lines amplify even slight lateral die movement. Die markers for this Stage B, mid-die state (MDS) example include a die gouge near the left cornice corner of the Memorial building and small die scratches under the U of PLURIBUS on the reverse. The obverse die paired with this reverse showed no notable markers in MDS. These die markers serve as authentication fingerprints: because multiple trail die reverses can look superficially similar — all showing parallel line distortion on the steps — the specific combination of gouges, scratches, and cracks unique to each die is essential for distinguishing one variety from another. The left cornice corner and the area beneath PLURIBUS are frequently referenced landmarks in Lincoln Memorial cent die analysis, providing consistent positional anchors for describing marker locations.

Die Markers

• Stage “B”, obverse is MDS – none noted
• Reverse is MDS – die gouge by left cornice corner. Small die scratches are seen under the U of PLURIBUS.

External References