LDB4-1996-002B BIE Die Break

Description

Second BIE die break documented for the 1996 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Memorial Cent, this variety extends BIE documentation from the classic Wheat Cent series into the Memorial Cent design that replaced it in 1959. The "B" suffix in the variety designation may indicate a sub-variant or alternative die state classification within the BIE cataloging system. Cross-referenced to the Hardy Index as 4SBH+, this attribution code provides a morphological classification for the specific type of die break — the Hardy system categorizes BIE breaks by their physical characteristics including height, width, position between the letters, and connection to any associated die cracks. Cataloged on July 13, 2015, by Cuds on Coins, this variety was documented during a period of active BIE research on Memorial Cents. While BIE die breaks are most famously associated with Lincoln Wheat Cents, the same mechanical vulnerability exists on the Memorial design because both share Victor David Brenner's obverse with its closely spaced LIBERTY inscription. The gap between B and E remains a stress concentration point regardless of the reverse design, and the copper-zinc composition used for Memorial Cents since 1982 (replacing the earlier 95% copper alloy) may exhibit slightly different die crack behavior due to the harder zinc core. The 1996-P Lincoln Memorial Cent was produced in substantial quantities at Philadelphia, generating the die pair volume necessary for BIE varieties to develop. Two documented BIE breaks for this date suggests moderate examination by variety specialists, with additional discoveries potentially waiting in unsearched 1996-P cent rolls.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John Smith
• Cross reference: Hardy Index 4SBH+. 07/13/2015.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References