1963 Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent - Proof Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-069

Description

WDDO-069 is a doubled die obverse on the 1963 proof Lincoln Memorial cent. The nature of proof coin production at the Philadelphia Mint — individual striking at elevated pressure from chrome-plated, mirror-polished dies — creates surfaces of exceptional diagnostic clarity, allowing even subtle secondary hub images to be detected under magnification. This surface fidelity, combined with the fact that proof coins are typically handled with greater care and preserved in better condition than their circulation counterparts, means that the proof cent population offers a particularly rich hunting ground for variety discoveries. WDDO-069 was created when the obverse working hub was fractionally displaced during one of the multiple impressions needed to sink the full design into a proof die blank. With 3,075,645 proof Lincoln cents produced in 1963, the total output was distributed across roughly a thousand die pairs, each independently susceptible to hubbing anomalies. Collectors seeking to confirm this variety should compare the doubling characteristics and any die-specific markers against published Wexler reference photographs, using at least 10x magnification. The coin was struck on the standard 95% copper and 5% zinc planchet used for Lincoln Memorial cents from 1962 to 1982.

Cross References

• Wexler Variety ID: 1963 1¢ Pr WDDO-069

External References