1961 Proof Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Opening the explicitly Proof-designated doubled die reverse sequence for the 1961 Lincoln Memorial Cent, Proof WDDR-001 displays a spread towards the center on ONE CENT, the designer's initials FG, the lower right Memorial building, OF AMERICA, and slightly on the letters of PLURIBUS. The centripetal Class II displacement is most strongly expressed on the lower right quadrant of the reverse — an observation of practical value to collectors, as it directs initial examination to the area of maximum visibility where the secondary hub impression is most readily distinguishable from the primary design. The involvement of five distinct design areas, from the denomination inscription through the architectural element and into the upper legends, indicates a broad-based hub distortion event during die production that left its imprint across much of the reverse die face. Neither the obverse nor the reverse presents significant die markers, which means that attribution depends entirely on matching the characteristic spread pattern against confirmed photographic references for this variety. The absence of supplementary diagnostics places greater emphasis on careful magnified comparison of the doubling itself — its width, direction, and relative intensity on each affected element. As a Proof issue, the 1961 cent's mirrored fields and squared-off design relief make the centripetal spread somewhat easier to detect than it would be on a business strike, particularly on the ONE CENT letters where the secondary image is most pronounced against the reflective background.

Die Markers

• Obverse: None significant. Reverse: None significant.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wexler Team

External References