1970-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-017

Description

Combining two distinct varieties on a single working die, WDDO-017 on the 1970-D Lincoln Memorial cent is simultaneously cataloged as WRPM-004 — a D/D South repunched mintmark — making this a dual-variety die of particular interest to specialists who collect either DDO or RPM errors. The partial horizontal bar visible above the 7 in the date confirms the doubled die component, while the D/D South mintmark shows the original D punch positioned south of the final placement, its remnants visible as secondary serifs or a shadow below the primary mintmark. That both errors exist on the same die is not coincidental: both reflect the manual, multi-step die preparation process of this era, where hubbing could introduce design doubling and mintmark punching could introduce positional errors as independent events on the same working die. Four die states document the die's progression across both surfaces. On the obverse, Stage 1 shows the RPM markers and die scratches in their initial state, while Stage 2 reveals the effects of abrading — the Mint's attempt to extend the die's service life by polishing its surface, which can reduce the visibility of both the doubled date and the repunched mintmark. The reverse progresses more dramatically: Stage 1 introduces a die crack along the bottom of the left Memorial base, followed in Stage 2 by a heavily chipped crack on the first column and an additional crack on the last column — progressive structural failures indicating the reverse die was approaching terminal condition. Collectors seeking this variety receive two attributable errors for the price of one, making WDDO-017/WRPM-004 among the most desirable entries in the 1970-D variety roster. Light die scratches run from north to south throughout the obverse. Reverse Stage A: A die crack runs from east to west along the bottom of the left memorial base running into the field.

Attribution History

• s:; Wexler Variety ID: 1970-D 1¢ WDDO-017
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References