2011P-1DEO-010T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Identified on the 2011 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Shield Cent, this trail die obverse variety was discovered by Steven Bingham and cataloged as 2011P-1DEO-010T. Trail dies result from incomplete or misaligned polishing of the die face, leaving faint raised lines on struck coins that trace the path of the polishing tool. Die stage documentation places this at Stage B, where the obverse has reached mid die state with no significant markers noted. The reverse at Stage B also reached mid die state, distinguished by a die crack along the top left edge of the shield, providing a secondary diagnostic for confirming the die pair. The trail die lines on the obverse at the 010-degree offset direction create characteristic parallel raised traces superimposed over normal design elements. As part of the Lincoln Shield Cent series struck from 2010 onward, this variety belongs to the modern cent production era where high-speed die preparation and polishing techniques occasionally leave telltale artifacts on working dies that transfer to every coin struck before the condition is detected.

Die Markers

• Stage “B“, obverse is MDS – none noted
• Reverse is MDS – a die crack is seen along the top left edge of the shield.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Steven Bingham
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References