1964 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-016

Description

Part of the extensive 1964 Philadelphia doubled die obverse catalog, WDDO-016 reflects the statistical reality that mass production on an unprecedented scale will generate a proportionally large number of die varieties. The Philadelphia Mint struck 2,648,575,000 Lincoln cents in 1964, requiring an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 obverse working dies over the course of the year. Each of those dies was created through multiple hubbing impressions, and any misalignment between impressions produced a doubled die. While the most dramatic doubled dies — like the famous 1955 and 1972 varieties — show bold, easily visible doubling, the majority of doubled die varieties exhibit more subtle spreads that require magnification to detect and reference images to attribute. WDDO-016 falls into the broader category of varieties that reward patient examination under a stereo microscope or high-quality loupe. No cross-references, expert attributions, or die markers have been documented for this variety, meaning attribution depends entirely on matching the specific doubling pattern against published Wexler reference photographs. Collectors building a comprehensive 1964 DDO set will find that assembling the later WDDO numbers often requires searching through quantities of uncirculated rolls or mint-sealed bags, where the full die detail is preserved and subtle varieties have not been obscured by circulation wear. Struck on a 3.11-gram, 19mm bronze planchet of 95% copper and 5% tin-zinc.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wexler Team

External References