Lincoln Cent Die Breaks Called “BIE”
Die Breaks called “BIE”
A “BIE” is a die break “chip” between the letters of LIBERTY on a Lincoln Cent
Suggested reference material for BIE research
“THE CLASSIFICATION AND VALUE OF ERRORS ON THE LINCOLN CENT”
by Jean Cohen 1969 edition
“BIE Handbook” Edited by Howard O Hardy as published in 1972
The numbering system that we are using for this anomaly type is designed to bring a person to the correct page for identifying the anomaly that he or she is searching for.
We have adopted part of Alan Herbert’s PDS system in using the nomenclature II-F-1 through 8 to identify the various die breaks that have occurred in the word LIBERTY.
LDB4-1945-001 4FH+
When looking at the above file number the LDB stands for Lincoln Die Break. The 1 digit would signify that the coin has an “BIE” type of die break. The next four digits are the year and the last three digits are the number of die anomalies in that particular year in that section. The number & letters following these numbers are description / delimitation letter / position letters.
See the Hardy Index System link.
LDB24-1945S-001
While having two die break anomalies on the same coin is infrequent, still it does happen. Looking at the above file number, the 24 digits indicate that this particular coin has an “LII” and a “BIE” type of die break. The date follows the number sequence and if applicable, the mintmark. If a D or S is not seen, the Philadelphia mint is that coin’s origin.
NOTE: All coins with two or more die break anomalies will be listed separately in a NEW file called Lincoln Die Break, II-F-Multiple. This file can be found as the last entry on this page.
Attributions instructions for BIE’s.
Additional Instructions for LIBERTY “BIE” Die Breaks
Lincoln Die Break, II-F-1: “ILI” Error
1940S
1948
1951D
1953 1953S
1962
1966
1968D
1995
Lincoln Die Break, II-F-2: “LII” Error
1950
1952
1983
Lincoln Die Break, II-F-3: “IIB” Error
1943
1945-D
1946-D
1948
1949-D
1951
1953-D
1954-D
1955 1955-D
1956 1956-D
1957-D
1958
1960 1960-D
1962
1983 & 83D
1987
1989
1993D
1994
1995
1998
1999
2002
2003
2005D
2006
2007
Lincoln Die Break, II-F-4: “BIE” Error
1930
1943
1944D
1950 1950-D
1951 1951-D 1951-S
1952 1952-D 1952-S
1953 1953-D
1954-D 1954-S
1955 1955-D 1955S
1956 1956-D
1957 1957-D
1958
1959-D
1960 1960-D
1962
1963D
1964 & 1964D
1982
1983
1994
1995 1995D
1996
1998 1998D
1999
2001
2002
2003
2004 2004D
2005D
2007
2008 2008-D
2009
2012
2014
2017P
Lincoln Die Break, II-F-5: “EIR” Error
1951
1952
1953
1954D
1955 1955D
1956
1958
1960D
1962
1983
1994
1995
Lincoln Die Break, II-F-6: “RIT” Error
1944D
1946
1953 1953D
1954S
1960 1960D
1962 1962D
1963D
1966
1970D
1981
1983
1990
1991
1994
1995 1995D
1996D
1999
Lincoln Die Break, II-F-7: “TIY” Error
1958D
1960D
1986
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994 1994D
Lincoln Die Break, II-F-8: “TYI” Error
Lincoln Die Break, II-F-Multiple: Date-Numerical Order