1970-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-026

Description

Documenting WDDO-026 within the Large Date classification of the 1970-S Lincoln Memorial cent, this entry preserves the same combination of hub doubling and dramatic die damage found on its Small Date counterpart. The doubling above the 7 in the date interacts with the Large Date's defining characteristic — the taller 7 — providing a larger canvas on which the secondary hub impression's displacement is visible. But the most immediately striking features of this variety are the strong die gouges extending from the rim above the L in LIBERTY, which produce prominent raised marks on struck coins that can be detected without the highest magnification levels typically needed for doubled die examination. These gouges resulted from physical damage to the die face, and their severity suggests significant foreign-body impact during die handling or installation. Heavy abrasion across the die surface documents a subsequent reconditioning attempt by Mint personnel — a standard maintenance procedure that involved polishing the die to remove minor damage, though in this case the abrasion itself became a diagnostic feature. The two-stage obverse and two-stage reverse capture the die's condition across its production run, with the interplay between gouges, abrasion marks, and original hub doubling evolving through each state. The absence of published cross-references means attribution relies on matching this distinctive constellation of features against Wexler's reference images. Collectors searching for WDDO-026 in the Large Date classification should scan the rim area above LIBERTY first — the die gouges serve as a rapid screening criterion that can identify potential specimens before the more subtle doubling above the 7 is examined. A SW/NE die scratch can be found to the right of the zero in the date. Reverse Stage A: Die scratches curve from NW to SE to the left of the P in PLURIBUS and the 1st U in UNUM. A horizontal die scratch can be found under the PLU in PLURIBUS. Numerous die scratches, mostly horizontal, run through the letters of ONE CENT. Only traces of the Stage A die scratches remain. Numerous die scratches, mostly SSW to NNE, run through the letters of ONE CENT and the rest of the reverse.

Attribution History

• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1970-S 1¢ WDDO-026
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References