1926 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Two extra eyelids visible southeast of Lincoln's main eyelid define this 1926 Lincoln Wheat Cent doubled die obverse, attributed by the Wexler Team under Wexler Variety ID WDDO-002. The doubled eyelid is among the most sought-after diagnostics on Lincoln Cent doubled dies because it produces a distinctive layered appearance visible under moderate magnification. Cross-referenced as Crawford CDDO-001, this variety benefits from dual attribution in both the Wexler and Crawford cataloging systems, providing independent verification. Obverse die markers include a die scratch near the rim below the 6 of the date and a small die dent inside the numeral 6, both serving as secondary diagnostics that confirm the specific working die even when doubling is weakly struck. No significant die markers were detected on the reverse specimen examined. The eyelid doubling results from misalignment between successive hub impressions during die preparation, where the hub shifted enough to create a secondary eyelid impression offset from the primary one. Philadelphia struck over one hundred fifty million cents in 1926, yet doubled die varieties remain scarce relative to total output.

Attribution History

• Discovered by William Slaughter Cross References: Crawford: CDDO-001
• Crawford: CDDO-001; Wexler Variety ID: 1926 1¢ WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References