1996 (P) Lincoln Memorial Cent - P-1DER-041T Trail Die Reverse

Description

Two sets of trails appear on 1996P-1DER-041T. The main set, at 040°, northeast, runs from E PLURIBUS UNUM, STATES, AMERICA, the cornice, the upper right corner of every column, the right corner of the roof, Lincoln's statue, the upper right corners of both urns, the stylobate's right corners and the T of CENT. A second set, at 130°, southeast, comes only from the E of ONE. The code marks a 1996-P cent reverse design extension (DER), file 041, with trails (T). On the middle-state coin, small dots lie in the field before Lincoln's face and a small scratch sits above the left of the U in UNITED. TrailDies cautions that a heavy scratch leaving the T of CENT on its right is a die scratch, not a trail. Tim Sumrall found it. Trails are mostly thought to come from polishing the die with a rotary buff, though some think the die moved against the hub.

Die Markers

• Stage “B“, obverse is MDS – small die dots are seen in the field in front of Lincoln’s face.
• Reverse is MDS – a small die scratch is seen above the left side of the U in UNITED. A heavy die scratch is seen from the right side of the T in CENT. This is not to be confused with a trail line.

External References