1971-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-006

Description

Attributed to the regular strike 1971-S Lincoln Memorial cent, WDDO-006 represents the sixth Wexler doubled die obverse for this date — and one of the few assigned to business strikes rather than proof coins, reflecting the San Francisco Mint's dual production role in 1971 when the facility struck both circulating cents and collector proof sets. The obverse die carries distinctive identification markers: a vertical die gouge positioned to the right of the second T in TRUST and a die scratch running southeast from the rim above that same letter, providing quick screening criteria before investing time in resolving the doubled die characteristics themselves. The reverse tells an even more detailed story of die deterioration, with numerous die scratches running from northwest to southeast through ONE CENT, three parallel die scratches extending northeast from the lower right of the N in CENT to the T in CENT, a die scratch running east-northeast from the lower E in UNITED, and numerous additional scratches distributed throughout the reverse surface. This extensive network of reverse die scratches suggests the die was well into its service life, accumulating surface damage from the repeated high-pressure contact of striking operations at San Francisco. As a business strike variety, WDDO-006 entered general circulation rather than being preserved in proof sets, making surviving specimens subject to the wear and handling that circulating coins endure. The combination of a doubled die obverse with such prolific and precisely mapped die markers on both sides creates multiple independent verification points for attribution — collectors can confirm the variety through either the doubling characteristics or the distinctive die scratch patterns, with the convergence of both features providing definitive identification.

Die Markers

• Obverse: A vertical die gouge can be found to the right of the 2nd T in TRUST. A die scratch runs SE from the rim above the 2nd T in TRUST. Reverse: Numerous die scratches run from NNW to SSE through the letters of ONE. Three parallel die scratches run NE from the lower right N in CENT to the T in CENT. A die scratch runs ENE from the lower E in UNITED. Numerous other die scratches can be found throughout the reverse.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wexler Team

External References