1956 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-007

Description

Seventh in the obverse doubled die census for the 1956 Lincoln wheat cent, DDO-007 presents strong spread across three prominent design elements — LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date — encompassing virtually all the major inscriptions on Victor David Brenner's obverse and earning the highest spread classification in the VarietyVista system. VarietyVista assigned die identifiers UVC-1872 and DMR-009, with three die stages that reveal an unusually detailed progression: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B where a die gouge has developed on Lincoln's chin and the obverse has reached mid die state while the reverse independently shows MDS characteristics, and Stage C where both obverse and reverse have advanced to late die state. The chin die gouge that appears in Stage B provides both a die state marker and a secondary diagnostic for attribution. A critical comment notation identifies this as a proof variety, meaning DDO-007 was struck using polished dies on specially prepared planchets for inclusion in the 1956 proof set — Philadelphia produced approximately 669,384 proof cents that year. Proof doubled die obverses are particularly prized by collectors because the proof striking process delivers maximum detail and contrast, enhancing the visibility of the strong spread on LIBERTY, the motto, and the date. The 1956 proof set represented one of the final years of wheat reverse proof production before the switch to the Lincoln Memorial design in 1959. Collectors should be aware that proof surface characteristics — mirrored fields and frosted devices — can both enhance and complicate doubling diagnosis, as the high-contrast finish makes even subtle spread more visible but also amplifies die polish lines and preparation marks that might be mistaken for doubling. Examination of all three inscription areas under 10-15x magnification should reveal clearly displaced secondary impressions consistent with the strong spread designation.

Die Markers

• UVC-1872
• DMR-009
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die gouge on chin – MDS
• Reverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• Obverse and Reverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Unknown
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References