1963 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-003

Description

Cataloged under Wexler Variety ID 1963 1c Pr WDDO-003, this proof doubled die obverse of the 1963 Lincoln Memorial Cent presents doubling as a counterclockwise spread on the LIBE in LIBERTY and on the date. The counterclockwise rotational character of the spread indicates that the working hub was fractionally rotated relative to the die during one of the multiple impressions required to fully sink the design, creating a secondary image that shifts in a consistent arc across the affected design elements. On LIBERTY, the doubling is most evident on the letters L, I, B, and E, where the secondary image appears offset in a direction consistent with counterclockwise rotation, while the date numerals show a corresponding displacement. Die markers for the obverse are noted as none significant, and the reverse likewise carries no significant die markers, which means attribution of this variety depends primarily on identifying the specific spread pattern rather than supplementary die surface features. Proof coins from the 1963 production run were struck at the Philadelphia Mint on specially polished planchets using chrome-plated dies operated at higher striking pressure than business-strike operations, producing the deep mirror fields and sharp device edges that characterize proof Lincoln cents of this era. The limited die life of approximately 3,000 strikes per proof die means that WDDO-003 was transmitted to a relatively small population of coins within the total proof mintage of 3,075,645 pieces. No additional cross-references beyond the Wexler designation are currently known. The coin features the standard 95% copper and 5% zinc composition used for all Lincoln cents from 1962 through 1982.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1963 1¢ Pr WDDO-003
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References