1971-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

Among the most significant proof Lincoln cent varieties of the modern era, WDDO-001 on the 1971-S proof Lincoln Memorial cent documents an extremely strong Class II spread towards the center visible on LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, the front of the vest, and the date — a scope of doubling that extends beyond the inscriptions into Lincoln's portrait itself, affecting the garment detail in a way that demonstrates the magnitude of the hub displacement. Class II spread towards the center pushes the secondary design impression inward, thickening elements from the rim side and creating shelved or stepped edges visible without magnification on this extremely strong specimen. The variety carries a remarkable depth of cross-referencing: CONECA 1-O-II, Cherrypickers Guide FS-01-1971S-101 (formerly FS-032), Breen #2262, Crawford CDDO-001, and Coppercoins 1971S-1DO-001P — five independent attribution sources confirming its status as a major variety in the proof Lincoln cent series. Beyond the doubled die, the obverse die carries an additional cataloged variety: a repunched mintmark listed in the Wexler RPM Files as WRPM-005, corresponding to CONECA RPM #3, showing the S punched over S with the secondary impression displaced north. The convergence of an extremely strong doubled die obverse and an independently cataloged repunched mintmark on the same die makes this a dual-variety die with both features originating from the die preparation process — the hub doubling from misaligned hubbing and the RPM from misaligned mintmark punching. On the reverse, a small die gouge to the right of the bottom of the second S in STATES provides die pairing confirmation. Proof striking at San Francisco preserved the extremely strong Class II spread with the mirror-field clarity and frosted design contrast characteristic of proof coinage, making the doubled edges particularly crisp and the centripetal displacement immediately apparent.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Tony Russo Cross References: CONECA: 1-O-II, Cherrypickers: FS-01-1971S-101 (032), Breen: #2262, Crawford: CDDO-001, Coppercoins: 1971S-1DO-001P
• CONECA: 1-O-II, Cherrypickers: FS-01-1971S-101 (032), Breen: #2262, Crawford: CDDO-001, Coppercoins: 1971S-1DO-001P; Wexler Variety ID: 1971-S 1¢ Pr WDDO-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References