1961 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-005
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Description
Displaying a close counterclockwise spread from a pivot point at approximately 9:00, the 1961 Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent WDDR-005 is a Class V rotated hub doubling variety whose effects are concentrated on the designer's initials FG and the letters of AMERICA. The pivot at about 9:00 — corresponding roughly to the left-center position on the die face — means that design elements farther from this fulcrum point experience greater displacement, which explains why the spread is most visible on the AMERICA inscription and the designer's initials, both situated at some distance from the pivot. The counterclockwise rotational direction distinguishes this variety from several other close-spread DDR varieties in the 1961 Proof sequence that exhibit centripetal or clockwise displacement instead. Neither the obverse nor the reverse carries significant die markers, leaving the CCW rotational doubling pattern as the primary identification tool. Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1961 1¢ Pr WDDR-005 with no other known cross-references, this Proof variety demonstrates the diagnostic value of understanding pivot-point mechanics: by recognizing where the rotation originates, a collector can predict which design elements should show the strongest secondary impressions and examine those areas first. The close nature of the spread necessitates magnification of at least 7x to 10x for reliable detection.
Attribution History
- Discovered by Lou Coles Cross References: None known
- None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1961 1¢ Pr WDDR-005
- Expert attribution by Wexler Team