Error BIE | 1944D “Cohen scarcest BIE”

[JC Stevens]

In her book the 1969 edition of “THE CLASSIFICATION AND VALUE OF ERRORS ON THE LINCOLN CENT” on page 3 Jean listed a 1944D BIE. The 44D-B401 “this is believed to be the scarcest BIE”. In the book is a hand illustration of the BIE and no markers are noted. In the “BIE Handbook” Edited by Howard O Hardy and published in 1972 there are 3 1944D Die Breaks listed and 1 Associated Die Break.

I think this coin is a match to Cohen's 44D-B401 and Hardy's 44D-4EL+1 or 44D-4EL+2. The images, as you know, are hand illustrations in these books.

I found this coin in a bag of wheat cents I won in an auction at a local coin club.

[VAB2013]

Congrats JC! What a great find, and so awesome that you are the one to find this rare BIE! What does it mean where you said "In the “BIE Handbook” Edited by Howard O Hardy and published in 1972 there are 3 1944D Die Breaks listed and 1 Associated Die Break." Are you referring to die break markers? or that Hardy shows this same BIE?

[Sheila ruley]

Oh my goodness! That’s absolutely awesome! Congrats!

[Petespockets55]

Congratulations on that one.
On the reverse, are those Decent size die dots/dents between F A (OF AMERICA) and the left wheat stem or just circulation marks?

[makecents]

Congrats on the find JC, that's great!!

[willbrooks]

May we see a pic of the drawing?

[makecents]

May we see a pic of the drawing?

Probably would be copyright infringement.

[JC Stevens]

Viv, Hardy "BIE Handbook"shows this same BIE as 44D-4EL+2. They also list a 44D-4EL+1 which could be an early state of the +2. We will never know for sure as all the drawing in both books are hand drawn illustrations.
Will both books have copyrights. CONECA has the copyrights for Cohen, I'll ask James Motley for permission to use the image.
Both books are in the ANA Library and can be checked out if you are a ANA member.

[JC Stevens]

Congratulations on that one.
On the reverse, are those Decent size die dots/dents between F A (OF AMERICA) and the left wheat stem or just circulation marks?

Circulation marks. While many of the coins in both Cohen & Hardy note die markers there are no die markers noted for the 44D.

[VAB2013]

Viv, Hardy "BIE Handbook"shows this same BIE as 44D-4EL+2. They also list a 44D-4EL+1 which could be an early state of the +2. We will never know for sure as all the drawing in both books are hand drawn illustrations.
Will both books have copyrights. CONECA has the copyrights for Cohen, I'll ask James Motley for permission to use the image.
Both books are in the ANA Library and can be checked out if you are a ANA member.

Thank you JC! That is what I was wondering about, if the Hardy BIE is the same BIE. It would be great if you are able to get permission to show us the hand drawn illustration of this BIE! Either way it goes, it is a great find and one I am sure you are very happy to run across!

[Petespockets55]

Thanks JC.
Hoping they might have been unknown markers.

[TPring]

Congrats. I read that as "scariest" BIE, LOL.

[Rowdyricster]

Congrats. I read that as "scariest" BIE, LOL.

I did too.

[retiredcopper]

Congratulations JC, that is an amazing find!

[joel]

Very appropriate that you should be the one to find it JC!! I think Lincoln was involved in your winning that bag of wheats!! Congrats!!