2005P(KS)-25DEO-001T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Discovered by Steve Bernatowicz and documented in the Trail Dies reference catalog, the 2005P(KS)-25DEO-001T is a trail die obverse variety on the 2005 Philadelphia Mint Kansas State Quarter. Trail dies are a distinctive class of minting variety where a faint ghost-like secondary impression of the design appears offset from the primary design elements, created when a die receives an unintended secondary contact during die manufacturing, press setup, or adjustment strikes — producing a subtle doubled image that differs from hub doubling in its mechanism and visual character. Die marker documentation identifies this as Stage C in late die state (LDS): the obverse shows a die crack along the lower base of Washington's bust, and the reverse shows a die crack extending from the lower right side corner of the mound to the rim. These die cracks document advanced structural deterioration in both dies, indicating the trail die impression was struck from a die pair nearing the end of its useful service life. The Kansas State Quarter, part of the 50 State Quarters Program (1999-2008), features a reverse design depicting a bison and sunflower representing the Sunflower State. Struck in copper-nickel clad composition (91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel) weighing 5.67 grams with a diameter of 24.26 mm, the 2005-P Kansas quarter was produced at the Philadelphia Mint with a mintage of approximately 263.4 million pieces. The obverse bears John Flanagan's portrait of George Washington, modified in 1999 by William Cousins for the State Quarters series. Trail die varieties on State Quarters are particularly collected because each state's unique reverse design produces distinctive trail impressions.

Die Markers

• Stage "C", obverse is LDS – a die crack is seen along the lower base of Washington's bust.
• Reverse is LDS – a die crack is seen from the lower right side corner of the mound to the rim.

External References