1962 Proof Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-005

Description

Presenting a focused doubling signature confined to the motto area, the 1962 Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent WDDO-005 exhibits a spread directed toward the rim on the letters of IN GOD WE TRUST. This outward-directed displacement pushes the secondary impression of each motto letter away from the die's center, producing a subtle broadening or shadowing effect along the outer edges of the affected characters. The concentration of visible doubling on the motto alone — without documented involvement of the date, LIBERTY, or the portrait — suggests that the hub displacement geometry either produced minimal effect in other obverse zones or that any secondary impressions elsewhere fall below the threshold of reliable detection. On proof surfaces, where the mirror-like fields and elevated striking pressure create sharper impressions than their business-strike counterparts, even a subtle outward spread on IN GOD WE TRUST can be resolved with careful examination under 10x to 16x magnification and diffused lighting that minimizes the reflective glare inherent to proof finishes. No significant die markers have been documented on either the obverse or the reverse of this variety, placing the entire attribution burden on the precise characteristics of the motto spread itself. Collectors must therefore compare the direction, magnitude, and distribution of the doubling against Wexler reference images to confirm WDDO-005 and exclude neighboring catalog entries that also display motto-focused spreads. This variety was struck at the Philadelphia Mint as part of the 1962 proof production of 3,218,019 sets, and the limited die life of roughly 3,000 impressions per proof die constrains the maximum possible population. The 1962 date marks the final year that proof Lincoln cents were produced in the original 95% copper alloy, lending compositional significance to an already numismatically interesting variety.

Die Markers

• Obverse: None significant. Reverse: None significant.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wexler Team

External References