2013P-1DEO-004T Trail Die Obverse

Description

Documented in the Trail Dies catalog and discovered by Joe Koelling, the 2013P-1DEO-004T is the fourth cataloged trail die obverse variety found on the 2013 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Shield Cent. Trail dies form when an unintended secondary contact during die manufacturing, installation, or trial striking produces a faint offset design impression alongside the primary — an origin mechanism distinct from hub doubling, which results from misaligned hubbing impressions during die manufacture. Die marker documentation identifies Stage "A" at early die state (EDS) with the obverse showing no noted markers and the reverse in EDS displaying a small die crack from the top of the C in AMERICA and a light die crack along the top left edge of the shield. These reverse markers are notably identical to those documented for 2013P-1DER-001T, suggesting either a shared reverse die between the trail die obverse and trail die reverse varieties, or a common pattern of early-state die cracking on 2013 Shield Cent reverse dies from the Philadelphia Mint. The Lincoln Shield Cent was struck in 2013 in copper-plated zinc (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) weighing 2.5 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. The Shield reverse, designed by Lyndall Bass, features a Union shield with thirteen vertical stripes beneath a scroll bearing ONE CENT. Victor David Brenner's obverse portrait has been in continuous use since 1909. Joe Koelling's prolific trail die discoveries across multiple Shield Cent dates have contributed substantially to the Trail Dies catalog's coverage of this series. The early die state documentation with C-in-AMERICA and shield-edge cracks provides a baseline reference for comparing against later die states that may show additional deterioration markers, helping collectors establish the chronological position of their specimens within this die's production sequence.

Die Markers

• Stage “A“, obverse is EDS – none noted
• Reverse is EDS – a small die crack is seen from the top of the C in AMERICA. A light die crack is seen along the top, left edge of the shield.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Joe Koelling
• Expert attribution by Trail Dies

External References