2011P-1DEO-017T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Discovered by Albert Neils and cataloged by Trail Dies, the 2011P-1DEO-017T is a trail die obverse variety on the Philadelphia-minted Lincoln Shield Cent. Trail die errors produce a displaced secondary image when the die bounces or shifts during the striking event, creating ghost-like traces of design elements outside their normal positions. The Lincoln Shield Cent is struck in copper-plated zinc at 2.50 grams and 19.05 mm diameter, combining Victor David Brenner's Lincoln portrait obverse with Lyndall Bass's Union Shield reverse introduced in 2010. Die markers place this at Stage B with the obverse at Mid Die State, where a die chip is visible in Lincoln's hair below the E of WE. The reverse, also at MDS, displays a die crack on the left upper edge of the shield. The designation 017T indicates this is the seventeenth trail die obverse documented for the 2011-P Lincoln Shield Cent — a remarkably high number that suggests either systematic searching efforts concentrated on this date or production conditions at the Philadelphia Mint in 2011 that were particularly conducive to trail die formation. Collectors should note that the hair die chip location (below WE) differentiates this from other 2011-P trail dies that show markers in different areas of the portrait.

Die Markers

• Stage “B“, obverse is MDS – a die chip is seen in Lincoln’s hair below the E of WE.
• Reverse is MDS – a die crack is seen on the left, upper edge of the shield.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Albert Neils
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References