RIDB-1c-2014-01R Retained Interior Die Break

Description

As the first documented retained interior die break for the 2014 Philadelphia Lincoln Shield Cent, RIDB-1c-2014-01R represents the earliest cataloged example of this die failure type on a Shield reverse cent from that production year. The Shield reverse, designed by Lyndall Bass and sculpted by Joseph Menna, replaced the four 2009 Bicentennial designs in 2010 and features a union shield symbolizing Lincoln's preservation of the nation. Its relatively flat field areas and bold shield lines create a different stress profile on dies compared to the Memorial reverse's detailed columns, potentially influencing where interior fractures develop. The 2014 cent was struck on copper-plated zinc planchets, continuing the composition adopted in 1982. Interior die breaks form when cracks propagate through the die body rather than along the rim, and the retained fragment stays lodged in position, stamping a raised anomaly onto coins. Philadelphia began adding the P mint mark to cents in 2017, so this 2014 issue carries no mint mark. Cuds on Coins cataloged this as the inaugural RIDB for 2014 Philadelphia without cross-references.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Paul Argento
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References