1948-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-004

Description

Among the most visually distinctive varieties in the 1948-D Lincoln wheat cent census, WDDO-004 presents a compelling diagnostic: an extra eyelid visible below Lincoln's normal eyelid on Victor David Brenner's portrait. Doubled eyelid varieties are among the most sought-after Lincoln cent doubled dies because the human eye naturally focuses on facial features when examining a portrait coin, making this type of doubling relatively easy to spot compared to inscription-based varieties. Denver struck approximately 317.6 million cents in 1948, a postwar production run that kept mint presses operating at substantial capacity. The obverse die markers extend beyond the doubled eyelid itself: a short, strong, nearly vertical die scratch sits just to the right of the upper chin, providing an independent die fingerprint for attribution purposes. On the reverse, two parallel die scratches run northeast from the top of the second T in STATES, offering a secondary confirmation point. The Wexler Team cataloged this as Wexler Variety ID: 1948-D 1-cent WDDO-004, with no additional cross-references currently known. The doubled eyelid mechanism results from hub doubling where the displacement between primary and secondary hub impressions falls precisely along the fine detail of the eyelid engraving, creating a distinct secondary line that parallels the original. Unlike many doubled die varieties where the doubling manifests as thickened letters or numbers, the extra eyelid provides an immediately recognizable visual anomaly that collectors can detect at relatively low magnification. Examination at 10-15x should reveal the secondary eyelid line below and slightly offset from Lincoln's primary eyelid contour.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Ribar Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1948-D 1¢ WDDO-004
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References