1959 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-004

Description

Designated WDDO-004 on the 1959 Lincoln Memorial Cent, this doubled die obverse variety was created when a misalignment during the die hubbing process produced visible doubling on the obverse design elements of this historically significant first-year Memorial reverse cent. The 1959 issue marks the transition from the Wheat Ears reverse, which had served since 1909, to Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial design — making doubled dies from this year particularly sought after as inaugural-year varieties. Die markers include a small die gouge to the left of the back of Lincoln's neck on the obverse, with no significant markers noted on the reverse. Victor David Brenner's obverse portrait of Abraham Lincoln, in continuous use since 1909, provides well-established reference points for doubled die attribution, as collectors and attributors have documented the geometry of Lincoln's profile across thousands of die pairs spanning five decades by this date. The 1959 Lincoln Memorial Cent was struck on 95% copper and 5% tin-and-zinc planchets weighing 3.11 grams with a diameter of 19.05 mm at the Philadelphia Mint, the final full year of the heavier brass composition before the gradual transition toward zinc-based planchets. As WDDO-004 in the Wexler catalog sequence, this variety sits among the earliest documented doubled die obverses for the date, reflecting its relative prominence within the 1959 die population. Examination under 10x magnification with overhead lighting reveals the doubling most clearly on the fine details of the date digits and IN GOD WE TRUST inscription.

Die Markers

• Obverse: A small die gouge can be found to the left of the back of the neck. Reverse: None significant.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wexler Team

External References