2011P(SAC)-100DEO-001T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Counterpart to the Position B entry, this trail die obverse variety for the 2011-P Native American dollar in Position A — designation 2011P(SAC)-100DEO-001T — records a die alignment anomaly on a distinct die pair from the Position B trail die obverse documented under the same catalog number. The distinction between Position A and Position B refers to the orientation of the edge-incused lettering relative to the obverse and reverse die alignment — when the coin is turned horizontally (rotated around a vertical axis), Position A specimens show the edge lettering reading in one orientation while Position B specimens read in the opposite orientation, a consequence of which of the two possible orientations the edge lettering collar was positioned during striking. Glenna Goodacre's Sacagawea portrait obverse has served the dollar denomination since 2000, while the 2011 Native American dollar reverse depicts the Wampanoag Treaty theme with hands exchanging a horse, designed by Richard Masters and sculpted by Jim Licaretz. Trail dies develop when the obverse and reverse dies are slightly offset from their ideal coaxial alignment in the press, causing faint impressions to extend from design elements in the direction of the misalignment. The Position A designation distinguishes this variety from the Position B trail die obverse also documented for 2011-P Native American dollars, confirming that trail die events occurred on die pairs installed in both possible edge lettering orientations. Philadelphia's 2011 Native American dollar production was directed primarily at collectors, as dollar coins had largely been eliminated from routine commerce. Collectors should examine Sacagawea's portrait and the surrounding obverse inscriptions under 15-20x magnification with directed illumination to detect the faint trail lines, and should verify the edge lettering orientation to confirm Position A status before attributing specimens to this specific variety.

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