1962 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-003
Error
Description
One of the most significant proof doubled die obverse varieties in the 1962 Lincoln Memorial Cent series, WDDO-003 displays a strong counterclockwise spread pivoting from approximately the 10 o'clock position, affecting the date, Lincoln's eyelid, and the letters of IN GOD WE TRUST. Cross-referenced as CONECA 5-O-V and carrying the Wexler Variety ID 1962 1¢ Pr WDDO-003, this variety combines bold doubling with proof-quality surfaces that render the secondary impressions in exceptional clarity. The counterclockwise pivot at 10 o'clock means design elements in the lower-right and right-side portions of the obverse — the date, the motto, and the portrait's facial details — received the greatest displacement, while elements near the pivot point at the upper left show minimal or no doubling. On the obverse, die markers include a die gouge touching the bottom left corner of the E in WE, a die scratch from below the B in LIBERTY running southeast to the top of Lincoln's head, and a small die gouge above and between the I and N of IN. The reverse carries its own set of identifiers: a die gouge appears as a dot below the bottom left of the D in UNITED, another dot-like gouge sits above the second T in STATES, and a small die gouge touches the top of the E in ONE. As a proof variety, WDDO-003 is constrained by the limited die life inherent to the proof striking process. CONECA researchers have noted that the average working life of a Lincoln cent proof die is approximately 3,000 impressions, making it highly unlikely that more than 3,000 specimens of this variety exist — a survival ceiling that places WDDO-003 among the scarcer attributable doubled dies in the 1962 proof catalog regardless of the total 3,218,019 proof mintage for the year.
Attribution History
- Discovered by Rod Hostutler Cross References: CONECA: 5-O-V Comments: As a proof variety it is highly unlikely that more than 3,000 specimens of this variety exist, as that is the average die life for a Lincoln cent proof die. Consequently, this variety should be considered to be extremely rare.
- CONECA: 5-O-V Comments: As a proof variety it is highly unlikely that more than 3,000 specimens of this variety exist, as that is the average die life for a Lincoln cent proof die. Consequently, this variety should be considered to be extremely rare.; Wexler Variety ID: 1962 1¢ Pr WDDO-003
- Expert attribution by Wexler Team