1962 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-049

Description

Delivering a strong Class V clockwise spread from a pivot point at approximately 9 o'clock, the 1962 Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent WDDO-049 ranks among the more visually accessible proof DDO varieties in the catalog, with bold pivoted hub doubling visible on the date and the letters of IN GOD WE TRUST. In the Wexler classification, Class V identifies a rotational hub displacement around an off-center pivot, and the clockwise direction means the secondary impression trails clockwise relative to each affected design element. With the pivot near 9 o'clock at the left rim, design elements in the right-side and lower portions of the obverse received the greatest angular displacement, explaining the prominence of the doubling on the date and TRUST, both positioned far from the rotational axis. The variety carries the Wexler Variety ID 1962 1c Pr WDDO-049, with no additional cross-references currently known. Obverse die markers include a strong die gouge extending west-northwest from the rim to the right of the B in the designer's initials VDB, along with two parallel scratches running south-southwest to north-northeast to the left of the upper eye. On the reverse, a die gouge appears between the bushes on the right side of the Memorial base, and a short die gouge runs south-southwest from the lower left of the N in CENT. This proof variety was struck at the Philadelphia Mint during the 1962 proof production of 3,218,019 sets — the last proof cents struck in the original 95% copper alloy. The strong intensity rating and the Class V classification together define a variety whose rotational doubling should be clearly visible on the high-contrast proof surface, making it a rewarding target for collectors who appreciate the geometric precision of pivoted hub doubling. Two nearly parallel die scratches run from SSW to NNE to the left of the upper eye.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Frank Baumann Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1962 1¢ Pr WDDO-049
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References