1993P-1DER-065WS Trail Die Reverse

Description

The most extreme die-state asymmetry in the 1993-P trail die census appears on Jeremy Gardner's discovery, 1993P-1DER-065WS, where the obverse has reached very late die state (VLDS) — nearly exhausted — while the reverse is in early die state (EDS), practically fresh. This is the inverse of 046WS (EDS obverse / LDS reverse): here the reverse die was clearly replaced, a new reverse installed to partner with an obverse running on borrowed time. Obverse markers reflect the extensive VLDS wear: a die gouge sits on top of Lincoln's head below and between the letters of WE, and another gouge appears on the S of TRUST. The reverse, despite its EDS freshness, already carries a small die gouge in bay 7, positioned opposite Lincoln's statue inside the Memorial. The pairing of a nearly worn-out obverse with a barely used reverse reveals the Mint's willingness to keep an obverse die running to the very end of its useful life by refreshing the other half of the pair — a production decision documented in die-state evidence.

Die Markers

• Stage “A”, obverse is VLDS – a die gouge is seen on top of Lincoln’s head below and between the letters of WE. Another die gouge is seen on the S of TRUST.
• Reverse is EDS – a small die gouge is seen in bay seven, opposite of Lincoln’s statue.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jeremy Gardner
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References