2013P-5DER-007T Trail Die Reverse

Description

Jim Karnes discovered trail die evidence on the reverse of the 2013 Philadelphia Jefferson Nickel, cataloged as 2013P-5DER-007T — the seventh trail die reverse documented for this denomination designation. Trail die varieties arise when a hub used to sink a previous die retains microscopic remnant impressions from the earlier design, which then transfer as faint ghost images onto the next die produced from that hub. Both obverse and reverse are at Mid Die State with no additional distinguishing die markers noted, placing the diagnostic focus entirely on the trail die evidence itself. Cataloged by Trail Dies with no additional cross-references, the "5DER" code identifies this as a five-cent denomination trail die on the reverse. The Jefferson Nickel's Monticello reverse, with its detailed architectural rendering of Jefferson's Virginia home, creates complex design surfaces where trail die remnants from previously sunk dies might manifest as subtle displaced or ghost-like architectural elements. Philadelphia's 2013 nickel production was substantial, generating the hundreds of working dies within which trail die events occur as a natural byproduct of hub reuse during die manufacture. Trail die varieties represent a distinct category from doubled dies: while both involve extra design impressions, trail dies transfer elements from a different die rather than displacing the same die's own design, making them forensic evidence of the manufacturing sequence in which hubs were used across multiple die sinkings during a production campaign.

Die Markers

• Obverse is MDS – none noted.
• Reverse is MDS – none noted.
• Note
• : This die was found by
• Jim Karnes.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jim Karnes
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References