1961 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-008

Description

Distinguished by a close counterclockwise spread visible at the top of the L and I in LIBERTY, the 1961 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-008 is a regular-strike Philadelphia variety whose doubling signature points to a Class V rotated hub doubling event during die manufacture. The counterclockwise directionality of the spread indicates that the hub rotated slightly in a CCW direction between successive impressions, displacing the upper portions of certain LIBERTY letters while leaving other design areas less affected. This localized expression is characteristic of pivoted hub doubling, where the rotation occurs around a fulcrum point that determines which regions of the die face show the strongest separation between primary and secondary images. As a Philadelphia cent struck for circulation, this coin carries no mintmark, and the 1961 date's robust production ensured that many working dies were employed — each with its own hubbing history. The close nature of the spread means that magnification of at least 5x to 10x is advisable when searching for this variety, as the secondary impressions at the tops of the L and I sit very near the primary lettering. No specific cross-references to other attribution systems have been published. Collectors should focus their examination on the upper serifs and crossbar terminals of the L and I in LIBERTY, where the CCW displacement creates the most discernible offset from the primary design.

Die Markers

• Obverse

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wexler Team

External References