2004P(FL)-25DER-001T Trail Die Reverse

Description

Cataloged as 2004P(FL)-25DER-001T by the Trail Dies reference, this trail die reverse variety was discovered by Bob Piazza of Florida on a 2004 Philadelphia Mint Florida State Quarter. The State Quarter program, running from 1999 through 2008, featured unique reverse designs for each of the 50 states, with the Florida quarter depicting a Spanish galleon, a strip of land, a space shuttle, and the inscription "Gateway to Discovery." The quarter was struck in the standard clad composition of a pure copper core bonded with outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel, weighing 5.67 grams with a 24.3 mm diameter. This specimen is documented at Stage B with the obverse at mid die state showing light north-south die scratches through the motto. The reverse is also at mid die state and displays light northwest-to-southeast die scratches through FLORIDA, providing a key diagnostic for attribution. Trail die varieties on State Quarters are particularly interesting because the unique reverse designs used for each state were produced in relatively concentrated time periods, unlike the standard reverse designs used across multiple years. The Florida quarter was released in 2004, with Philadelphia producing approximately 240 million examples. Trail dies are created when a working die contacts another die or production component in an unintended way, transferring ghost impressions of design elements, and the scratch patterns documented at Stage B serve as the primary markers for identifying coins struck from this specific die. The discovery by Bob Piazza from Florida adds a fitting local connection to this variety, as the discoverer hails from the same state commemorated on the coin's reverse design.

Die Markers

• Stage "B", Obverse is MDS – Light N-S die scratches through the motto.
• Reverse is MDS – Light NW-SE die scratches through FLORIDA.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bob Piazza of Florida
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References