1971 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Second in the Wexler doubled die obverse sequence for the 1971 Lincoln Memorial cent, WDDO-002 documents a Class I clockwise spread on the letters of LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date. Class I CW hub doubling results from rotational displacement between successive hub impressions, where the secondary impression is rotated clockwise relative to the primary — producing rightward-shifting extra thickness on upper-left elements and leftward-shifting displacement on lower-right elements, with magnitude increasing at greater distances from the rotational center. Cross-referenced as CONECA 2-O-I, Crawford CDDO-001, and Coppercoins 1971P-1DO-002, this variety carries triple external attribution confirming its independent recognition across major cataloging systems. The die marker documentation describes two distinct die stages with a notable visual distinction. Stage A presents a die scratch running ESE from the rim above the first T in TRUST and a light die scratch running SW to NE to the left of the lower W in WE — relatively subtle markers on a working die still in active condition. Stage B carries a significant observation: the Stage A markers have disappeared, and the doubling has taken on a very "mushy" appearance. This mushiness describes a visual softening of the doubled design edges, where the originally crisp separation between primary and secondary hub impressions has degraded into indistinct, blended contours — a condition that can result from die wear, die polishing, or advanced deterioration that progressively obscures the sharp doubling evidence preserved on earlier-struck specimens. On the reverse, Stage A shows a small die gouge above the right Memorial base, while Stage B documents a die gouge to the right of the top of the last Memorial column. Collectors should prioritize earlier die state specimens where the CW doubling retains its definition before the mushy deterioration documented in Stage B compromises the visual impact.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: CONECA: 2-O-I, Crawford: CDDO-001, Coppercoins: 1971P-1DO-002
• CONECA: 2-O-I, Crawford: CDDO-001, Coppercoins: 1971P-1DO-002; Wexler Variety ID: 1971 1¢ WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References