2010P-1DER-005T Trail Die Reverse

Description

Discovered by Louis Schaeffer, the 2010P-1DER-005T trail die reverse on the Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Shield Cent documents vestiges of a prior hub impression on the reverse working die. Observed at Stage B with the reverse at mid-die-state, the specimen captures the die at an intermediate point in its production life. Trail die varieties preserve faint secondary design traces from the die preparation process, recording hubbing history that is normally obliterated during final die finishing. The 2010 date marks the first year of the Lincoln Shield Cent reverse, introduced after the four 2009 Bicentennial designs to replace the Memorial reverse that had served since 1959. The Shield reverse, featuring a union shield with horizontal and vertical stripes symbolizing the states joined in union, debuted as part of the Lincoln Cent's design modernization. Trail die varieties from this inaugural Shield Cent year document the earliest production dies in the new design series. Cataloged by Trail Dies, the MDS classification at Stage B indicates moderate die wear, and Schaeffer's discovery contributes to the census of trail die varieties on this significant first-year Shield Cent issue from Philadelphia.

Die Markers

• Stage “B “, obverse is MDS – none noted
• Reverse is MDS – a series of small die gouges is seen under the U of UNITED. A small die crack is seen on the top point of the shield

Attribution History

• Discovered by Louis Schaeffer
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References