2009D-1DER-004T Trail Die Reverse

Description

Discovered by Jean Lee, this 2009 Denver Mint Lincoln Cent from the Formative Years design exhibits a trail die reverse variety. A trail die occurs when a mismatched die transfers design elements onto a working die during preparation, leaving secondary impressions from an unrelated design. In Stage B, the obverse is in Mid Die State with a die crack visible above Lincoln's eyebrow. The reverse is also in Mid Die State with a die chip in Lincoln's left shoulder and die cracks are seen from the top of the N in ONE. The Formative Years reverse by Charles Vickers depicts Lincoln studying while resting from rail splitting, one of four unique 2009 Bicentennial designs. Struck on copper-plated zinc planchets at Denver, the Formative Years cent had a more limited production run than typical single-design years, as output was divided among four reverse types. Lee's discovery documents trail die impressions on this bicentennial issue, with the eyebrow crack on the obverse and the shoulder chip and N-of-ONE cracks on the reverse providing the attribution diagnostics for this specific die pair.

Die Markers

• Stage “B”, obverse is MDS – a die crack is seen above Lincoln’s eyebrow.
• Reverse is MDS – a die chip is seen in Lincoln’s left shoulder. Die cracks areseen from the top of the N in ONE.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jean Lee
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References