1957 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-011

Description

Eleventh doubled die reverse for the 1957 Lincoln Wheat Cent, this variety was attributed by the Wexler Team with the designation 1957 1c WDDR-011. Eleven DDRs from the penultimate Wheat Cent year reflects both the enormous Philadelphia Mint production volume and the intense scrutiny that late-series issues receive from variety specialists aware that the wheat ears reverse was approaching its end. The 1957 cent was struck in the standard bronze alloy of 95% copper with 5% tin and zinc that had been the Lincoln Cent composition since its 1909 debut (excepting the 1943 steel cents and 1944-1946 shell-casing alloy). Doubled die reverses result from imprecise alignment between successive hub impressions during die manufacture — the hub, which carries the positive relief design, is pressed into the die blank multiple times under hydraulic pressure, and any shift between impressions leaves overlapping design elements in the die's intaglio surface. Victor David Brenner's wheat ears reverse offered an ideal canvas for doubling detection, as its symmetrical botanical design provided natural reference lines against which any displacement could be measured. The substantial number of DDRs documented for the 1957 date makes it a priority year for Lincoln Cent variety collectors building comprehensive reverse hub variety inventories.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1957 1¢ WDDR-011
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References