1972 Lincoln Memorial Cent - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-026

Description

WDDO-026 is a doubled die obverse on the 1972 Lincoln Memorial cent. The doubling class and spread direction for WDDO-026 follow the pattern of the 1972 doubled die family: clockwise or counterclockwise hub rotation producing visible doubling on date or letter elements. No cross-references to other attribution services have been documented (Wexler Variety ID: 1972 1¢ WDDO-026). The existence of twenty-six documented doubled die obverses from a single year and mint — separate from the master die doubling that affected the majority of all 1972 cents — stands as a testament to the production difficulties experienced at the Philadelphia Mint during 1972. The hubbing equipment clearly suffered from persistent alignment problems throughout the production season, creating doubled working dies at a rate far exceeding normal expectations. Each WDDO in the sequence represents a unique working die that carried its own doubled impression into the production press, striking some quantity of circulation coins before eventually being retired.

Cross References

• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1972 1¢ WDDO-026

External References