2012P-1DEO-008T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Documented in the Trail Dies catalog and discovered by Bear Johnson, the 2012P-1DEO-008T is a trail die obverse variety found on the 2012 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Shield Cent. Trail dies represent a specialized class of minting variety where a faint secondary design impression appears offset from the primary image, caused during the die manufacturing, installation, or trial-strike process. The die markers for this variety document Stage "B" at mid-die-state (MDS) with strong die scratches throughout the obverse (as documented in reference photographs) and a die crack on Lincoln's forehead, while the reverse in MDS shows die scratches through the word AMERICA and along the shield edges. The strong die scratches across the obverse are particularly notable as they affect a wide area of the die face, creating a pattern of linear marks that overlay the portrait and field areas and provide multiple identification checkpoints. The Lincoln Shield Cent, introduced in 2010 with a Union Shield reverse designed by Lyndall Bass, replaced the Lincoln Memorial Cent reverse that had been in use since 1959. Struck in copper-plated zinc (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) weighing 2.5 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter at the Philadelphia Mint, the 2012 Shield Cent continued Victor David Brenner's obverse portrait design that has been in continuous use since 1909. The die crack on Lincoln's forehead and the die scratches through AMERICA on the reverse represent progressive die deterioration that accumulated during production, providing secondary attribution points beyond the trail die impression itself for collectors seeking to confirm specimens of this variety.

Die Markers

• Stage “B“, obverse is MDS – strong die scratches throughout the obverse (see pics), die crack on forehead
• Reverse is MDS – die scratches through AMERICA & shield edges.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bear Johnson
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References