2011P-1DEO-018T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Documented in the Trail Dies catalog and discovered by Bear Johnson, the 2011P-1DEO-018T is a trail die obverse variety found on a 2011 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Shield Cent. The trail impressions are visible on the upper portion of the letters UST (from TRUST) and slightly on the last 1 in the date, with an offset direction measured at 330 degrees — a precise angular measurement indicating the direction of the secondary design displacement relative to the primary, positioned approximately north-northwest on a compass bearing. This 330-degree offset direction provides a quantitative diagnostic that distinguishes this trail die from others that may show similar affected areas but at different displacement angles. The die marker documentation identifies Stage B as mid-die-state with no obverse markers noted beyond the trail die effect itself, while the reverse shows die scratches running through the BUS UNUM portion of E PLURIBUS UNUM. The Lincoln Shield Cent, introduced in 2010 with Lyndall Bass's reverse design featuring a union shield with a horizontal scroll inscribed ONE CENT, replaced the Lincoln Memorial reverse that had served since 1959. Victor David Brenner's obverse Lincoln portrait continues its unbroken run since 1909. Composed of copper-plated zinc (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper), the coin weighs 2.50 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. The Trail Dies catalog's systematic documentation of these varieties, including precise offset angle measurements, provides a level of classification specificity that enables collectors to distinguish between trail die varieties that might otherwise appear similar at first inspection, particularly when multiple trail die events occur on the same date and denomination.

Die Markers

• Stage “B“, obverse is MDS – none noted.
• Reverse is MDS – die scratches through BUS UNUM.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bear Johnson
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References