LDB4-2005D-002 BIE Die Break

Description

Cataloged six years after the first BIE for 2005-D, this second documented BIE die break for the 2005 Denver Mint Lincoln Memorial Cent carries a different Hardy sub-classification — 4BLM rather than the 4BL+ assigned to LDB4-2005D-001 — indicating a distinct fracture position within Hardy position 4. The difference in Hardy codes demonstrates that even within a single positional category, die cracks can form at measurably different points along the die surface between the B and E of LIBERTY. A BIE die break occurs when a vertical crack in the die fills with metal during striking, producing a raised bar that resembles an extra letter I. The six-year gap between -001 and -002 illustrates the ongoing nature of BIE discovery — collectors continue examining coins years or decades after mintage. LDB4-2005D-002 is cataloged by Cuds on Coins. The 2005-D cent was part of Denver's late-era Memorial Cent production, and the documentation of multiple BIEs with distinct Hardy sub-classifications reflects the systematic rigor that BIE specialists bring to cataloging these popular die break varieties.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Robert Oney
• Cross reference: Hardy Index 4BLM. 05/17/2021.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References