1858 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-006

Description

Sixth in the Wexler-documented obverse doubled die census for the 1858 Flying Eagle cent, WDDO-006 presents strong Class I clockwise (CW) spread visible exclusively on the eagle's eye — a remarkably localized but intense doubling diagnostic on James B. Longacre's design that debuted in 1856 and was produced for only three years. The Flying Eagle cent holds a pivotal place in United States numismatic history as the first small-size cent, replacing the cumbersome large copper cent and establishing the diameter and general format that the denomination has maintained ever since. Production challenges plagued the design — the eagle's high relief on the obverse conflicted with the wreath's high relief on the reverse, creating striking difficulties that ultimately contributed to the type's replacement by Longacre's Indian Head design in 1859. Philadelphia struck approximately 24.6 million cents in 1858, the final full-production year for the type (the 1857 carried a slightly higher mintage). Strong Class I doubling indicates a hub displacement mechanism where the entire secondary impression shifted in a clockwise rotational direction relative to the primary, and the concentration of visible effects solely on the eagle's eye suggests either that the displacement was minimal (visible only on the most sensitively detailed design element) or that the eagle's eye area happened to be positioned at the point of maximum rotational displacement on the die face. No significant obverse or reverse die markers were noted, making the eagle's eye doubling the primary diagnostic. The Wexler Variety ID 1858 1¢ WDDO-006 provides the formal catalog reference, with no other attribution system cross-listings documented. Collectors should examine the eagle's eye area under 15-20x magnification, looking for the clockwise displacement of a secondary eye impression against the primary.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Not noted Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1858 1¢ WDDO-006
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References