1968-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-005

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team as WDDO-005, this is a doubled die obverse variety found on the 1968-S proof Lincoln Memorial cent — the first year proof coinage returned to the San Francisco Mint after the three-year suspension imposed by the Coinage Act of 1965. Proof coins are struck on specially prepared polished planchets using polished dies, typically receiving multiple impressions at reduced striking speed to produce the mirror-like fields and frosted design elements that characterize proof quality. Doubled die varieties on proof coins occupy a premium position in the error and variety market because the superior surface preservation of proofs makes the doubling easier to detect and photograph, and because proof coins are inherently more carefully examined by their owners, increasing the likelihood that a variety will be identified and attributed. The 1968-S proof cent holds additional historical significance as the first proof Lincoln cent since the 1964 issue, ending a gap during which Special Mint Set (SMS) coins served as the collector-oriented product from the Mint. The cross-reference field for this variety contains "s:" which appears to be a truncated or corrupted entry in the source data and is preserved as-is. Cataloged under Wexler Variety ID: 1968-S 1¢ Pr WDDO-005. Attributed by the Wexler Team. Struck on a 3.11-gram, 19mm planchet of 95% copper and 5% zinc at the San Francisco Mint.

Attribution History

• s:; Wexler Variety ID: 1968-S 1¢ Pr WDDO-005
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References