1963 Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent - Proof Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-071

Description

Deep within the Wexler doubled die catalog for the 1963 proof Lincoln cent, WDDO-071 is another entry that reflects both the productivity of the Philadelphia Mint's proof operation and the exhaustive approach of modern variety attribution. The proof dies used to strike 1963 Lincoln cents were created through the same multi-impression hubbing process that governed all die production at the Mint — a technique in which a hardened working hub bearing the obverse design was pressed repeatedly into a softened die blank until the design reached its specified depth. Fractional displacement of the hub between any two of these impressions embedded a permanent secondary image in the die steel, creating what variety collectors classify as a genuine doubled die. After hubbing, proof dies were chrome plated and polished to produce the mirror-field finish that defines proof coinage, a process that sealed the hubbing anomaly beneath the chrome layer without disturbing it. WDDO-071 entered service carrying this sealed anomaly and struck proof cents at elevated pressure on polished planchets, producing coins that combined the brilliant aesthetic appeal of proof manufacture with the numismatic interest of a doubled obverse die. Identification requires careful magnified comparison of the doubling pattern and die markers against published Wexler reference photographs. The coin bears the Brenner obverse portrait and Gasparro Memorial reverse on a 95% copper and 5% zinc planchet.

Cross References

• Wexler Variety ID: 1963 1¢ Pr WDDO-071

External References