1936 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-006

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team and cross-referenced as CONECA 14-O-II, the 1936 Lincoln Wheat Cent WDDO-006 shows a spread toward the center on "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE." The "toward center" direction indicates a Class II distorted hub doubling where the secondary impression shifted inward relative to the primary, compressing the text elements slightly rather than spreading them outward — a presentation that manifests as thickened letterforms on the affected text. The obverse die carries a NE/SW die scratch in the vest area west of the date — a precisely located die marker that enables efficient screening of candidate coins. On the reverse, a die gouge appearing as a dot to the right of the upper O in "ONE" provides secondary confirmation. The Wexler Variety ID 1936 1-cent WDDO-006 and CONECA listing 14-O-II position this variety within both major doubled die reference systems, ensuring cross-referenceability regardless of which catalog a collector or dealer consults. The 1936 Philadelphia Lincoln Cent had a mintage of 309,637,569 — a substantial Depression-era output that reflected the economy's partial recovery by the mid-1930s. Six documented doubled die obverses for this date represents moderate variety depth, consistent with the number of working dies consumed during production. The 1936 cent is also notable in Lincoln Cent chronology as a year when proof production resumed after being suspended in 1917, though WDDO-006 appears to be a business-strike variety based on the absence of proof-specific notation. Die scratches in the vest area near the date are among the most common die marker locations on Lincoln Cents, as this area of the die experiences significant metal flow stress during striking.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: CONECA: 14-O-II
• CONECA: 14-O-II; Wexler Variety ID: 1936 1¢ WDDO-006
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References