1940 (D) Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-007

Description

Seventh in the Wexler doubled die obverse sequence for 1940-D Lincoln Wheat Cents, WDDO-007 presents its primary diagnostic as an extra eyelid visible north of Lincoln's normal eyelid — a secondary impression created when the hub was applied to the die twice with slight vertical displacement between strikes. The eyelid region on Lincoln Cents is one of the most sensitive areas for detecting hub doubling because the fine curved line readily reveals even minor positional shifts. Die markers on the obverse include scratches running NNE/SSW on the top of the forehead, E/W scratches to the right of the upper ear, and NNW/SSE scratches northwest of the 9 in the date. The reverse carries its own constellation of die markers: scratches running mostly N/S to NNW/SSE through the O in OF, the UN in UNITED, and the E in ONE. These directional scratch patterns across both die faces serve as fingerprints for this specific die pair, allowing collectors to confirm attribution independently of the doubling itself. Attributed by the Wexler Team with the variety designation 1940-D 1 cent WDDO-007, this Denver Mint Wheat Cent rewards careful examination of the eyelid area under at least 7x magnification, with the forehead and ear-area scratches providing secondary confirmation points.

Cross References

• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1940-D 1¢ WDDO-007

External References