1955 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-004

Description

Struck as a proof at Philadelphia, WDDR-004 for the 1955 Lincoln Wheat Cent is cross-referenced as CONECA 2-R-II. Extra thickness appears on E PLURIBUS UNUM, the dots, both upper wheat ears, both wheat stems, and OF AMERICA, with the strongest spread on the left side of the reverse — a directional clue indicating the hub displacement produced maximum shift toward the left portion of the die. Proof Wheat Cents from 1955 were struck on polished planchets with polished dies, producing mirror-like fields that make doubling particularly conspicuous. Obverse die markers include a die scratch running west-southwest to east-northeast to the left of the top of Lincoln's ear. The year 1955 is famous among Lincoln Cent collectors for the dramatic DDO-001, and while this reverse variety is a different phenomenon, it benefits from heightened collector awareness surrounding 1955 varieties. Identifying WDDR-004 requires examining reverse lettering and wheat elements for extra thickness, paying attention to the left-side concentration of the spread.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: CONECA: 2-R-II
• CONECA: 2-R-II; Wexler Variety ID: 1955 1¢ Pr WDDR-004
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References