Hardy Index System
A schematic method for identifying and classifying Liberty Die Breaks. It was developed by Howard O. Hardy for the BIE ODDITY COLLECTORS GUILD. The index was 1st applied to over 1800 illustrations by John Gedko of Liberty Die Breaks. Using the Hardy Index System a catalogue was published in 1972 call the “BIE Handbook” Edited by Howard O Hardy. If you’re an ANA member you can check out the book from the ANA Library LINK.
An explanation of the Hardy Index System can be found on page 21 of the BIE Handbook. Here is an example as taken from the BIE Handbook for a 1999-S Lincoln Cent 99S-4CL+7.
- 99 S-4CL+7 The year of the coinage.
- 99S-4CL+7 The mint of manufacture.
- 99S-4CL+7 The die break locator ( 1L2I3B4E5R6T7Y8 ).
- 99S-4CL+7 The delimitation letter.
- 99S-4CL+7 The die break position letter.
- 99S-4CL+7 The extension indicator.
- 99S-4CL+7 The variation serial number.
The Date and Mint Mark “parts 1 – 3”
99S indicates a 1999S Cent
Note: all cents 2009 up will have the full date and mint mark “2009S”.
The die break description / delimitation letter “part 4”
“A” indicates an associated die break
“B” indicates a break of less than ¼ the height of the letters.
“C” indicates a break of ¼ or more, but less than ½ the height of the letters.
“D” indicates a break of ½ or more, but less than ¾ the height of the letters.
“E” indicates a break of ¾ or more, but less than the full height of the letters.
“F” indicates a break that is flush with the highest and the lowest levels of the letters.
“F+” indicates full breaks that extend both above the highest level and below the lowest level of the letters.
“FH+” indicates full breaks that extend above the highest level of the letters.
“FL+” indicates full breaks that extend below the lowest level of the letters.
“R” indicates a related die break.
“S” indicates a semi die break.
The Die Break position letter “parts 5 & 6”.
“L” indicates a partial die break extending from the lowest level of the letters toward, but not reaching, the highest level of the letters. This type is termed a “lower” break.
“H” indicates a partial die break extending from the hightest level of the letters toward, but not reaching, the lowest level of the letters. This type is termed a “upper” break.
“M” indicates a partial die break not touching either the highest or lowest level of the letters. This type is termed a “center” die break.
“HM” indicates a center break located in the upper portion between the letters. This type does not touch the upper level of the letters.
“LM” indicates a center break located in the lower portion between the letters. This type does not touch the lower level of the letters.
“H+” indicates a partial die break that extends above the highest level of the letters.
“L+” indicates a partial die break that extends below the lowest level of the letters.
The Variation serial number “part 7”.
A sequential number added for one or more die break of same description / delimitation letter / position.
Listing on the Pages “Some pages are still under construction”.
Order of Listings. The listings on the page are by description / delimitation letter / position letters. Full die breaks at the top and semi die breaks at the bottom of the page.
Full Die Breaks “F”.
50D-4F. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“F” indicates a break that is flush with the highest and the lowest levels of the letters.
52S-FH+. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens
“FH+” indicates full breaks that extend above the highest level of the letters.
55D-4FL+. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“FL+” indicates full breaks that extend below the lowest level of the letters.
51D-4F+. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens
“F+” indicates full breaks that extend both above the highest level and below the lowest level of the letters.
3/4 Die Breaks “E”.
56D-EH+. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“EH+” indicates a break of ¾ or more that extend above the highest level of the letters.
55P-EH. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“EH” indicates a break of ¾ “upper” die break.
57D-EHM. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“EHM” indicates a break of ¾ “upper middle” die break.
“EM” indicates a break of ¾ “middle” die break.
56D-ELM. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“ELM” indicates a break of ¾ “lower middle” die break.
55D-4EL. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“EL” indicates a break of ¾ “lower” die break.
53P-4EL+. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“EL+” indicates a break of ¾ that extend below the lowest level of the letters.
Die Breaks of ½ or more, but less than ¾ the the height of the letters “D”.
“DH+” indicates a break of ½ or more, but less than ¾ the height of the letters and extends above the highest level of the letters.
56P-SDH. Image Courtesy of Chris Simpson
“DH” indicates a break of ½ or more, but less than ¾ “upper” die break.
56P-DHM. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“DHM” indicates a break of ½ or more, but less than ¾ “upper middle” die break.
57D-DM. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“DM” indicates a break of ½ or more, but less than ¾”middle” die break.
“DLM” indicates a break of ½ or more, but less than ¾ “lower middle” die break.
55D-4DL. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“DL” indicates a break of ½ or more, but less than ¾ “lower” die break.
55D-4DL+. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“DL+” indicates a break of ½ or more, but less than ¾ that extend below the lowest level of the letters.
“Die Break of ¼ or more, but less than ½ “upper” die break “C”.
“CH+” indicates a break of ¼ or more, but less than ½ the the height of the letters and extends above the highest level of the
letters.
56P-SCH. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“CH” indicates a break of ¼ or more, but less than ½ “upper” die break.
“CHM” indicates a break of ¼ or more, but less than ½ “upper middle” die break.
52P-4CM. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“CM” indicates a break of ¼ or more, but less than ½ “middle” die break.
“CLM” indicates a break of ¼ or more, but less than ½ “lower middle” die break.
57D-4CL. Images Courtesy John Smith.
“CL” indicates a break of ¼ or more, but less than ½ “lower” die break.
53P-4CL+. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“CL+” indicates a break of ¼ or more, but less than ½ that extend below the lowest level of the letters.
Die Break of less than ¼ the height of the letters “B”.
57P-4SBH+. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“BH+” indicates a break of less than ¼ the height of the letters and extends above the highest level of the letters.
“BH” indicates a break of less than ¼ the height of the letters “upper” die break.
55D-4SBHM. Note: this also a Semi Die Break “S”. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
“BHM” indicates a break of less than ¼ the height of the letters “upper middle” die break.
55PD-4SBM Note: this also a Semi Die Break “S”. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens
“BM” indicates a break of less than ¼ the height of the letters”middle” die break.
95-4BLM. Image Courtesy of Keith Christenson.
“BLM” indicates a break of less than ¼ the height of the letters “lower middle” die break.
51P-4SBL Note: this also a Semi Die Break “S”. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens
“BL” indicates a break of less than ¼ the height of the letters “lower” die break.
54S-4BL+. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens
“BL+” indicates a break of less than ¼ the height of the letters that extend below the lowest level of the letters.
Semi Die Break “S”.
50P-4SF. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens
“S” indicates a semi die break.
Related Die Break “R”.
“R” indicates a related die break.
Associated Die Break “A”.
53P-ALRT+1. Image Courtesy of JC Stevens.
Note: Hardy did not use Die Break Locator Numerals on associated die breaks.
“A” indicates an associated die break.
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