1950 (D) Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team, this 1950-D Lincoln Wheat Cent doubled die obverse presents a distinctive diagnostic feature: an extra eyelid visible below Lincoln's normal eyelid. This type of hub doubling on a portrait element is particularly compelling because it creates an anatomically anomalous appearance — a second eyelid line beneath the primary one — that is both visually striking and diagnostically unambiguous once identified. The doubling on Lincoln's eye area indicates that the hub shifted during the die-making process, with the secondary impression slightly displaced in the vertical plane. Die markers confirm the attribution: on the obverse, a die scratch runs south from the bottom of the T in LIBERTY to the shoulder, with a short die scratch running N/S to the right of the Y in LIBERTY. On the reverse, a die scratch runs parallel to the rim above E PLURIBUS UNUM. No cross-references to other attribution systems are currently known, making the Wexler designation the primary catalog entry. The 1950-D cent was struck at the Denver Mint, and while the Denver mintage was robust at 334,950,000, this specific doubled die represents only one die pair's production. Extra eyelid varieties are sought after by Lincoln Cent specialists because they represent one of the most visually accessible forms of hub doubling — collectors can often spot the doubled eyelid under moderate magnification without needing to compare subtle letter thickness or serif notching. WDDO-002 is the second documented doubled die obverse for the 1950-D date, indicating that hub doubling events occurred on multiple dies prepared for Denver's substantial cent production that year.

Cross References

• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1950-D 1¢ WDDO-002

External References