1970 (S) Lincoln Memorial Cent - Large Date - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-038

Description

Exhibiting doubling above the 7 in the date, WDDO-038 on the 1970-S Large Date Lincoln Memorial cent is accompanied by an array of die scratches providing robust attribution markers across both surfaces. Die scratches run through the date area and extend from the RTY in LIBERTY on the obverse, creating linear surface features independent of the doubling that serve as die fingerprints. The doubling above the 7 — appearing as extra metal or a partial shadow of the numeral's upper portion — represents the hub misalignment defining this variety, but the die scratches through the date offer particular diagnostic value because they intersect with the very area where doubling is visible, meaning a collector examining the date will simultaneously encounter confirming scratch markers. On the reverse, a die scratch passes through the E and N of ONE, providing a pairing marker verifying the reverse die matches the documented die pair. The combination of date-area scratches with scratches emanating from LIBERTY creates a distinctive pattern spanning a wide arc of the obverse, reducing the chance of misattribution even on specimens where the doubling at the 7 is marginal.

Cross References

• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1970-S 1¢ WDDO-038

External References