LDB3-2006-001 BIE Die Break

Description

Documented by Cuds on Coins with a Hardy Index cross-reference of 2006P-3F, this Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Memorial Cent displays a BIE die break — a raised vertical bar resembling the letter "I" that appears between the letters of LIBERTY on the obverse. BIE die breaks are among the most popular and recognizable die varieties in Lincoln Cent collecting, occurring when a small section of the die between two adjacent letters fractures and sinks, causing struck coins to show a raised column of metal in the gap. The LDB3 designation indicates the break occurs at position 3 within the LIBERTY legend, and the Hardy Index classification 2006P-3F provides precise cataloging within the comprehensive BIE reference system developed by researcher Jerry Hardy. The 2006 Philadelphia Mint cent was produced on copper-plated zinc planchets during the final years of the Lincoln Memorial reverse, which would be retired after 2008. BIE die breaks have been collected and studied since at least the 1950s, and their distinctive visual appearance makes them accessible to beginning collectors who may not yet own the magnification equipment needed for subtler varieties.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jessica Johnson
• Cross references: Hardy Index 2006P-3F. 08/04/2018.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References