1970 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-022

Description

Showing distinctive doubling above the 7 in the date, WDDO-022 on the 1970 Lincoln Memorial cent provides collectors with a focused attribution target — the extra metal above the date digit serves as a primary diagnostic that can be checked quickly under magnification before confirming through secondary die markers. Beyond the hub doubling at the date, this die carries two notable surface features: die scratches running south from the L in LIBERTY and east from the 12th column on the reverse, along with additional scratches running west to east above the statue's head within the Lincoln Memorial. These die scratches function as fingerprint-level identifiers, allowing attributors to confirm they are examining a coin struck from this specific die pair rather than a different WDDO variety with superficially similar doubling. Die scratches on Lincoln Memorial cents typically originate from die maintenance procedures — polishing or abrading performed to extend die life — and become permanent features of every coin struck after the maintenance event. No cross-references have been established beyond the Wexler system. The combination of a clearly localized doubling target at the date and multiple directional die scratch markers makes WDDO-022 one of the more straightforward 1970-P doubled die varieties to attribute with confidence, provided collectors examine both the obverse and reverse for the full constellation of die markers.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bill Wilson Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1970 1¢ WDDO-022
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References