1930 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

An extra eyelid visible south of the main eyelid provides the primary diagnostic for WDDO-002, the second cataloged doubled die obverse on the 1930 Lincoln Wheat Cent. Philadelphia struck 157,415,000 cents in 1930, the first full year of the Great Depression, when hoarding of other denominations increased demand for circulating cents. The obverse die markers include a die gouge dot visible on the forehead below the hairline — a defect distinct from the hub doubling itself that serves as a confirmatory attribution point. Reverse die markers are equally distinctive: a die scratch connects the upper center horizontal bar of the E in CENT to the bottom of the upper horizontal bar of the same E, and a short die scratch extends from the tip of the lower left wheat stem. Wexler Variety ID 1930 1¢ WDDO-002 carries no known cross-references in other attribution systems, making the Wexler designation the sole published reference. The eyelid doubling on Lincoln cents is a commonly sought diagnostic because it appears on a facial feature that collectors naturally examine, making WDDO-002 more accessible to identify than varieties requiring examination of less prominent design areas. Attributed by the Wexler Team, this doubled die belongs to the pre-war Philadelphia-only production era when all cent dies were manufactured and used at a single facility.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1930 1¢ WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References