1936-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-003

Description

Bearing dual cross-references as Coppercoins 1936S-1DO-001 and Wexler Variety ID 1936-S 1¢ WDDO-003, this Lincoln Wheat Cent doubled die obverse shows its primary diagnostic as a doubled eyelid — the eyelid on Lincoln's portrait is clearly doubled, with the secondary image appearing well to the southeast of the primary eyelid position. Eyelid doubling is one of the most visually accessible doubled die diagnostics on Lincoln Cents because the eye area is a focal point of the portrait that collectors naturally examine closely, and even modest hub displacement produces noticeable separation at this high-relief feature. Die markers support attribution: the obverse carries a series of die scratches above the D in GOD near the rim, while the reverse shows mostly north-to-south die scratches throughout the fields — directional scratching that likely resulted from die polishing or manufacturing surface preparation. The Coppercoins cross-reference (1936S-1DO-001) places this as the first doubled die obverse cataloged for the 1936-S in the Coppercoins attribution system, while the Wexler WDDO-003 number indicates it is the third in Wexler's sequence — a discrepancy that reflects different cataloging timelines and numbering conventions between the two attribution services. The 1936-S Lincoln Cent was produced at the San Francisco Mint during the Depression recovery era, with a mintage of approximately 29.1 million pieces. Doubled dies on pre-war Wheat Cents carry particular appeal because they combine early Lincoln Cent historical significance with the tangible evidence of hub-to-die alignment issues that characterized an era of less mechanized die production.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bill Slaughter Cross References: Coppercoins: 1936S-1DO-001
• Coppercoins: 1936S-1DO-001; Wexler Variety ID: 1936-S 1¢ WDDO-003
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References