1957-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-012

Description

Distinctive among the 1957-D DDO varieties for its detailed die marker documentation, WDDO-012 presents a spread to the north on ERTY of LIBERTY — a directional indicator that helps classify the doubling class and aids collectors in quick identification. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID: 1957-D 1¢ WDDO-012, this variety carries particularly rich die marker evidence. On the obverse, remnants of a die clash are visible to the right of Lincoln's throat and to the left of the back of the neck, indicating the die collided with the reverse die without a planchet between them at some point during its production life. Die scratches running WSW/ENE through the 19 in the date provide an additional obverse diagnostic. The reverse die is equally well-documented: long die scratches curve ESE from URIB in PLURIBUS, and a die scratch runs WSW/ENE through the lower O to the N in ONE. This abundance of die markers makes WDDO-012 one of the more confidently attributable DDO varieties for the 1957-D date, as the combination of directional doubling on ERTY plus the specific pattern of clash remnants and die scratches creates a fingerprint unlikely to be confused with any of the twenty-three other cataloged DDO varieties for the date. The clash evidence also tells us this die experienced at least one striking cycle without a planchet present — a production incident that would have slightly damaged both dies in the pair.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1957-D 1¢ WDDO-012
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References