1962 Proof Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-036

Description

Earning a "very strong" intensity rating that places it among the most visually prominent proof doubled die obverse varieties for the date, the 1962 Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent WDDO-036 displays a Class II spread directed toward the rim on the date and IN GOD WE TRUST, with additional doubling visible on the BERTY of LIBERTY and on Lincoln's eyelid. Class II designates distorted hub doubling in the Wexler system, where the secondary impression underwent expansion or compression relative to the primary image, and the outward spread toward the rim pushes the secondary outlines away from the die's center with pronounced separation. The broad involvement of four distinct obverse zones — date, motto, partial inscription, and portrait — indicates a hub displacement of significant magnitude and favorable geometry that projected visible doubling across nearly the entire obverse. On proof surfaces, where polished dies operating under elevated striking pressure at the Philadelphia Mint produce mirror-like fields and sharply defined frosted devices, this very strong Class II spread is rendered with exceptional clarity. The eyelid doubling is particularly striking against the frosted portrait, and the BERTY portion of LIBERTY provides a convenient mid-inscription confirmation point. Obverse die markers include a short vertical die gouge midway between the tops of the D in GOD and the W in WE. On the reverse, a short vertical scratch sits at the rim above the first T in STATES. This entry is the proof-specific record for WDDO-036, distinct from any non-proof counterpart. The variety was struck as part of the 1962 proof production of 3,218,019 sets, with each proof die typically serving roughly 3,000 impressions. The 1962 date represents the final proof issue in the original 95% copper alloy composition, lending added historical significance.

Die Markers

• Obverse: A short, vertical die gouge can be found midway between the tops of the D in GOD and the W in WE. Reverse: A short, vertical die scratch can be found at the rim above the 1st T in STATES.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wexler Team

External References