1959-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

From the inaugural year of the Lincoln Memorial reverse, this 1959-D WDDR-002 was attributed by the Wexler Team and displays close spread toward center on the designer's initials and the lower portion of ONE CENT. Frank Gasparro's Memorial reverse replaced Victor David Brenner's wheat ear design that had served since 1909. Close doubling directed toward center indicates the second hub impression was slightly undersized or applied with marginally different pressure, compressing design elements inward. Multiple die scratches on the obverse serve as die markers that help confirm the specific die pair. The Denver Mint's substantial 1959-D production — over 1.27 billion cents — provided enormous quantities of first-year Memorial Cents for circulation, yet doubled die reverses from this debut year attract particular interest from collectors who value the convergence of a new design type with mechanical variety. Searching for hub doubling on the designer's initials requires magnification, as the small size of the FG initials means even moderate spread produces tight separation between original and doubled impressions.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1959-D 1¢ WDDR-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References