1961 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-005
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Description
One of the most complex doubled die varieties in the 1961 Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent series, WDDO-005 exhibits a Class II spread directed towards the center on the date and the letters of LIBERTY, combined with Class VI extra thickness on the letters of IN GOD WE TRUST. The simultaneous presence of two distinct doubling classes — distorted hub doubling producing the centripetal spread on LIBERTY and the date, alongside the design-element thickening on IGWT — points to an unusually disrupted hubbing sequence that affected multiple areas of the obverse die. A small die gouge appearing as a dot can be found in the field east of the lower lip on the obverse, serving as a key authentication marker. Notably, the reverse of this die is itself a doubled die, cross-listed in the Wexler Doubled Die Files as 1961 1¢ Pr WDDR-006, making this a combined DDO/DDR variety — a die that carries hub doubling on both faces, a relatively uncommon occurrence that enhances its numismatic significance. The reverse doubling manifests as a very close Class V clockwise spread from a pivot point at approximately 8:00, visible on the second S in STATES, the S in PLURIBUS, the letters in OF AMERICA, and the designer's initials. A small die gouge near the rim above the second T in STATES further aids reverse-side attribution. Cataloged by the Wexler Team under the designation 1961 1¢ Pr WDDO-005, this Proof doubled die merits special attention from variety collectors because of its dual-surface doubling and multi-class obverse characteristics.
Attribution History
- s:; Wexler Variety ID: 1961 1¢ Pr WDDO-005
- Expert attribution by Wexler Team