1962 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-020
Error
Description
Rivaling WDDO-013 for the most extensively documented die history in the 1962 Lincoln Memorial Cent series, WDDO-020 presents strong extra thickness accompanied by separation lines on the date, LIBERTY, and IN GOD WE TRUST, and its production story is recorded across four obverse stages and four reverse stages — an unusually detailed chronicle of die life from early production through terminal deterioration. The Wexler Variety ID is 1962 1¢ WDDO-020 with no additional cross-references. In Obverse Stage A, the die is in early die state with the extra thickness and separation lines at their most crisply defined, and the reverse is similarly fresh. By Obverse Stage B, die deterioration has advanced: the reverse paired with this obverse stage shows progression into mid-die state, and the combined surfaces begin to exhibit the softening characteristic of extended production use. Obverse Stage C introduces a significant diagnostic development as the die progresses further, with additional surface changes documenting the ongoing fatigue of the die steel under repeated high-pressure strikes against copper planchets. The transition to Obverse Stage D marks a pivotal change in the die's history: the obverse is now paired with a new reverse die, indicating that the original reverse deteriorated beyond acceptable tolerances and was retired while the still-functional obverse continued in service. This reverse die swap creates a clear chronological boundary — specimens with the original reverse predate those with the replacement — and divides WDDO-020 into two fundamental die marriages that collectors can use to organize and sequence their holdings. The four-stage obverse progression documents the gradual erosion of the extra thickness and separation lines from bold clarity in Stage A through progressive softening in Stages B and C to near-obliteration in Stage D, providing a textbook illustration of how doubled die features diminish over a die's working life. Similarly, the four reverse stages chart the life and death of two different reverse dies, each contributing its own set of die markers and deterioration signatures. The rich multi-stage record transforms WDDO-020 into more than a simple variety attribution — it serves as a case study in die lifecycle analysis, rewarding collectors who pursue complete stage sets with a tangible narrative of 1962 Philadelphia Mint production.
Attribution History
- None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1962 1¢ WDDO-020
- Expert attribution by Wexler Team