2012P-5DER-003T Trail Die Reverse

Description

Documented in the Trail Dies catalog and discovered by Monika Stacy, the 2012P-5DER-003T is a trail die reverse variety found on the 2012 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel from the Return to Monticello series (2006 to date). The "5DER" designation in the catalog code identifies this as a five-cent denomination error reverse, distinguishing it from trail dies on other denominations in the Trail Dies systematic classification scheme. Die marker documentation identifies Stage "B" at mid-die-state (MDS) with no obverse markers noted, while the reverse in MDS displays a small die gouge between the letters US of PLURIBUS and another small die gouge to the left of one of the windows in Monticello — architectural details of Thomas Jefferson's Virginia home that provide precise reference geometry for locating these diagnostic points within the building's facade. Trail dies represent a specialized class of minting anomaly where a faint secondary design impression appears offset from the primary, created during die manufacturing, installation, or test-strike procedures that left an unintended contact impression on the working die. Monika Stacy's discovery of this trail die reverse adds to the growing catalog of trail die events documented across Jefferson Nickel production years. The Jefferson Nickel was designed by Felix Schlag with the restored Monticello reverse, struck at the Philadelphia Mint in copper-nickel composition (75% copper, 25% nickel) weighing 5.00 grams with a diameter of 21.21 mm. Trail die varieties are collected as a distinct specialty within the error and variety community, with the Trail Dies reference catalog systematically documenting these anomalies across denominations, dates, and mints. The Monticello reverse's architectural details — windows, columns, doors — provide particularly useful reference landmarks for precisely locating the die gouge markers that authenticate this variety.

Die Markers

• Stage “B“, obverse is MDS – none noted.
• Reverse is MDS – a small die gouge is seen in between the letters US of PLURIBUS. Another small die gouge is seen to the left of one of the windows in Monticello.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Monika Stacy
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References