1995P-1DER-005WS Trail Die Reverse

Description

Documented in the Trail Dies catalog, the 1995P-1DER-005WS is a major trail die reverse variety on a 1995 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Memorial Cent, described as one of the very few that shows column extension under all twelve columns of the Lincoln Memorial — a comprehensive trail die effect spanning the entire width of the architectural reverse design. The trail die manifests as sharp, well-defined, strong to moderate multiple fluting line extensions into the stylobate under columns 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, and 12, with strong well-defined step deviation under columns 4 through 9, and light single-line step deviation under both the right and left urns. Die markers at Stage C identify the obverse at LDS with two small die gouges in the vicinity of the I in IN, while the reverse at LDS shows a die dot in the N of UNUM and a die gouge to the left of column 1. The LDS classification for both dies at Stage C indicates this die pair was well into its later production life, with the trail die features likely having been present since the die's initial use and persisting through all subsequent strikes. The Lincoln Memorial Cent was designed by Frank Gasparro for the reverse and Victor David Brenner for the obverse, struck in copper-plated zinc (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) weighing 2.5 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. The multiple fluting lines under individual columns — rather than the typical single line — combined with full twelve-column coverage establishes this as a definite major trail die in the Trail Dies classification, representing the highest severity tier within their grading framework for trail die strength.

Die Markers

• Stage “C”, obverse is LDS – two small die gouges in the vicinity of the I of IN.
• Reverse is LDS – Die dot in the N of UNUM. Die gouge to the left of column 1.

External References