2007P-1DEO-004T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Discovered by Bob Piazza of Florida and documented by Trail Dies, this 2007 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Memorial Cent exhibits a trail die obverse variety designated 2007P-1DEO-004T. Trail die obverse varieties are less commonly documented than their reverse counterparts, as the obverse portrait design of Victor David Brenner's Lincoln bust presents fewer fine parallel lines and geometric features compared to Gasparro's Memorial reverse where trail effects are more readily visible. Die markers place this at Stage B, with the obverse at mid-die state showing small die dots over the seven of the date, while the reverse at mid-die state displays a light die crack from the left tip of the cornice traveling toward the T in UNITED. The die dots over the date digit provide a distinctive and easily located diagnostic marker for this variety. The 2007 Lincoln Memorial Cent was struck in copper-plated zinc composition and represents one of the final years of the Memorial reverse design, which would be replaced by four rotating reverse designs in 2009 commemorating Lincoln's bicentennial, followed by the permanent Shield reverse beginning in 2010. Trail die varieties document the progressive deterioration of working dies during high-speed production, and Bob Piazza's discovery of this obverse trail die adds to the catalog of die anomalies documented from the Lincoln Cent's extensive production history.

Die Markers

• Stage “B”, obverse is MDS – small die dots over the seven of the date.
• Reverse is MDS – light die crack from the left tip of the cornice, traveling towards the T in UNITED.

External References