1972 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-012

Description

Unique among the 1972 Philadelphia doubled dies for its classification as Class VIII (tilted hub doubling) rather than the Class I (rotated hub doubling) that characterizes varieties 001 through 011, WDDO-012 demonstrates that the 1972 cent dies were affected by multiple types of hubbing misalignment during manufacture. The clockwise spread shows an extra horizontal bar of the 2 in the date just above the normal horizontal bar — this variety's primary diagnostic feature — along with the master die doubling known for this date on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. Class VIII doubling occurs when the hub is tilted relative to the die during impression, causing the design to spread in a specific pattern different from the rotational displacement of Class I: rather than the entire design shifting as a unit around a rotation point, a tilt creates a spread that varies based on distance from the tilt axis, producing displacement patterns that can mimic other doubling classes in localized areas. Two obverse die stages and two reverse die stages have been documented, with Stage A showing the diagnostic features at their sharpest. Cross-referenced as CONECA 10-O-VIII (the VIII designating Class VIII tilted hub doubling, confirming the attribution to this specific mechanical cause), Crawford CDDO-013, and Coppercoins 1972P-1DO-011. The presence of master die doubling alongside the working die doubling creates a layered complexity: the master die doubling is common to all 1972 dies prepared from the same master, while the Class VIII working die doubling is specific to this individual die — collectors must distinguish between the two sources of doubling when examining specimens, recognizing that the master die component appears on many different varieties while the Class VIII component is unique to WDDO-012. Die Markers: Obverse Stage A: A small die gouge touches the center left side of the G in GOD. A short die scratch running SW to NE passes through the upper left 9 in the date. A die scratch extends SSW to the rim from the lower left corner of the L in LIBERTY. Remnants of a die clash can be seen above the date. Two long die scratches run SW from the bottom of the R in LIBERTY. A die scratch runs from SW to NE above the BE in LIBERTY. Numerous other die scratches can be found throughout the obverse. Reverse Stage A: A small die gouge can be found just NW of the upper left corner of the Memorial roof. A die scratch runs parallel to the right side of the 2nd A in AMERICA. A small die gouge (dot) can be found just to the right of the top of the 5th Memorial column. A die scratch extends SW from the left side of the 6th Memorial column. A small die gouge (dot) is centered in the 8th Memorial bay about two-thirds of the way up from the bottom. Die scratches run from west to easts through EPU. A die scratch runs from the tip of the right cornice to the C in AMERICA.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Allen Cross References: CONECA: 10-O-VIII, Crawford: CDDO-013, Coppercoins: 1972P-1DO-011
• CONECA: 10-O-VIII, Crawford: CDDO-013, Coppercoins: 1972P-1DO-011; Wexler Variety ID: 1972 1¢ WDDO-012
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References