1958-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-007

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team under the designation 1958-D 1c WDDO-007, this seventh doubled die obverse for the final-year Denver Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent shows doubling concentrated on the bottom of the B in LIBERTY — a localized manifestation suggesting very slight hub movement during one of the multiple impressions required to create the working die. Die markers provide robust attribution data: on the obverse, a die scratch runs south from the bottom of the Y in LIBERTY and a curving die scratch extends from NNW to SSE to the right of the forehead and nose, while the reverse displays die scratches running NW to SE to the left of the C in CENT. No additional cross-references beyond the Wexler system have been established. The 1958-D occupies a terminal position in numismatic history as the final Denver Mint Wheat Cent — the last coin to carry Victor David Brenner's wheat ears reverse from the Denver facility before the design transition to Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse in 1959. Denver struck over 800 million cents in 1958, a massive production run that consumed hundreds of die pairs and generated ample opportunity for hubbing anomalies. Seven doubled die obverses documented for this date demonstrates that collectors have thoroughly examined the 1958-D despite its enormous mintage, motivated in part by the "last year" cachet that makes terminal-date coins attractive to series completionists. The localized nature of the doubling on the B of LIBERTY requires focused magnification in a specific zone for detection, making this a variety that rewards patient examination.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Keith Christenson Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1958-D 1¢ WDDO-007
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References