1960 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-016
Error
Description
Found exclusively on proof coinage, WDDR-016 on the 1960 Lincoln Memorial Cent Proof Large Date displays an extremely close spread towards the center on the designer's initials. This minimal scope of doubling — confined to the FG initials alone — places WDDR-016 at the boundary of what constitutes a catalogable doubled die, where the displacement is genuine but challenges even practiced attributors to confirm visually. The centerward spread indicates a Class II rotational misalignment during the hubbing process, though the extremely close nature of the displacement means only the finest details of the initials reveal the secondary impression. No significant obverse die markers have been identified. On the reverse, die scratches run mostly north to south on the left Memorial base, providing the principal diagnostic for confirming this specific working die. The Proof Large Date designation indicates this die was prepared during the initial proof production phase at Philadelphia before the mid-year transition to the Small Date hub, and the approximately 3,000-impression proof die life inherently limits the surviving population. Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1960 1¢ Pr WDDR-016 with no other known cross-references, this variety demands careful examination of the designer's initials under high magnification — at least 16x is recommended — to distinguish genuine hub doubling from the normal thickening that can result from die polishing on proof dies.
Attribution History
- Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: None known
- None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1960 1¢ Pr WDDR-016
- Expert attribution by Wexler Team