1960 Lincoln Memorial Cent - Proof Small Date - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-003

Description

Documented as at least a Large Date hubbed over a Large Date hubbed over a Small Date, WDDO-003 is a proof quadrupled die obverse on the 1960 Lincoln Memorial Cent. The doubling manifests as a spread to the east on the letters of LIBERTY and a spread towards the center with extra thickness on the letters of IN GOD WE TRUST. Four distinct notches visible on the lower R of TRUST confirm this is actually a quadrupled die, most likely reflecting a third Large Date hubbing. Obverse die markers include a large die dent south of the back of the mouth and a short die gouge running west-southwest from the rim above the R in TRUST. The reverse carries a short, strong vertical die gouge inside the center right side of the C in CENT, a die scratch running southwest to northeast at the top of the 4th Memorial bay, and another die scratch running southwest to northeast about one-third of the way down from the top of the 5th Memorial bay. Cross-referenced as Cherrypickers FS-01-1960-103 (023), Breen #2229, CONECA 3-O-III, Coppercoins 1960P-1DO-004P, and Crawford CDDO-002, this variety is cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1960 1c Pr WDDO-003. As a proof variety, the surviving population is likely capped at approximately 3,000 specimens.

Die Markers

• Obverse: A large die dent can be found south of the back of the mouth. A short die gouge runs WSW from the rim above the R in TRUST. Reverse: A short, strong vertical die die gouge can be found inside the center right side of the C in CENT. A die scratch runs from SW to NE at the top of the 4th Memorial bay. A die scratch runs from SW to NE about 1/3 of the way down from the top of the 5th Memorial bay.

Cross References

• Cherrypickers: FS-01-1960-103 (023), Breen: #2229, CONECA: 3-O-III, Coppercoins: 1960P-1DO-004P, Crawford: CDDO-002 Comments: As a proof variety it is highly unlikely that more than 3,000 specimens of this variety exist, as that is the average die life for a Lincoln cent proof die.; Wexler Variety ID: 1960 1¢ Pr WDDO-003

External References