1972-S Variety WMDO-001

Description

The 1972-S Lincoln cent Master Die Doubling Obverse — cataloged as WMDO-001 by the Wexler attribution system — documents the San Francisco Mint manifestation of the same master die doubling that affects the Philadelphia and Denver mints' 1972 production. This is NOT a rare or valuable variety: it is the extremely common master die doubling estimated to appear on 60% to 70% of ALL 1972 Lincoln cents produced across all three mints (Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco) in both business strike and proof formats. The doubling presents as an extremely close Class I clockwise spread visible on the letters of LIBERTY, the letters of IN GOD WE TRUST, and the horizontal bar of the "2" in the date. On early die state specimens, the E of WE may appear to show tripling — suggesting a possible counterclockwise spread component in addition to the primary clockwise spread. No extra value is assigned to coins showing only this master die doubling. The historical mechanism is as follows: early in 1972, the original Lincoln cent master die failed after the Philadelphia Mint had already produced numerous doubled working dies (the famous WDDO-001 through WDDO-026 series). A replacement master die was created — and the same hubbing alignment problems that had plagued working die production throughout the year also affected this new master die, imparting a subtle Class I clockwise spread during its creation. Because all subsequent working dies for the remainder of 1972 production — at Philadelphia, Denver, AND San Francisco — descended from this single doubled replacement master die, the doubling propagated to the vast majority of cents struck from approximately May 1972 onward. This includes San Francisco's regular business strikes (produced for mint sets) and proof cents alike, since both used working dies hubbed from the same affected master die. The sole die marker specific to the master die doubling itself — as opposed to markers unique to individual working dies — is a short die gouge extending eastward inside the upper S of TRUST. All other die markers vary among the many different working dies descended from this master die, as dozens of different working dies were produced for San Francisco's 1972 production. WARNING TO COLLECTORS: Unscrupulous sellers sometimes advertise 1972-S cents (including proofs) as "doubled die" specimens at inflated prices while deliberately omitting the "MD" (Master Die) designation that would correctly identify the doubling as the common master die variety. Any 1972-S cent — whether business strike or proof — showing only an extremely close spread on LIBERTY and IGWT without dramatically visible displacement is almost certainly this master die doubling and carries no numismatic premium beyond the coin's base value. The genuine scarce doubled dies for 1972-S (WDDO-001 through WDDO-007) display clearly distinguishable working die doubling that is separate from and in addition to any master die doubling present. Collectors should be particularly cautious when examining proof specimens, as the superior strike quality of proofs can make even the subtle master die doubling appear more prominent than it does on business strikes — potentially creating a misleading impression of significance to inexperienced buyers.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: None known Values: No extra value Comments: Shortly after the various obverse doubled die cent varieties were produced that year, the Lincoln cent master die for 1972 failed and a new one had to be produced. Clearly the Mint was having problems that year with the hubbing process as was evidenced by the many doubled die varieties produced. Those problems carried over to the second master die that was produced for the Lincoln cents that year. That second master die was produced with minor doubling. It is estimated that the doubled master die was created somewhere around April or May of 1972. All of the Lincoln cents struck by working dies that descended from the doubled master die show this minor doubling. The doubling can be seen on the letters of IGWT, the letters of LIBERTY, and very slightly on the date. Since 60% to 70% of all Lincoln cents for 1972 show this doubling, it is far too common to have any value. This includes 1972 P-Mint, D-Mint, and proof coins produced that year. Newer doubled die collectors should be very careful if responding to ads for 1972 doubled die Lincoln cents. There are individuals out there trying to sell specimens of this doubled master die for premiums far in excess of what they should be. You should not be paying more than the normal numismatic value of a 1972 cent for 1972 cents with this master die doubling. Those trying to sell them to unsuspecting buyers advertise them as “genuine doubled dies” which they are. The ads are truthful in that respect, but they fail to tell you that it is a specimen of the doubled master die that can easily be found without paying a premium for it. Back when they were first listed they were assigned a listing number of 1972 1¢ MD-5-O-I+II. Those trying to sell them at a premium identify them as “5-O-I+II” but they leave off the master die indicator “MD.” If you are fairly new to doubled die collecting, don’t let yourself fall victim to these scams. If you would like to add a specimen of the doubled master die to your collection for educational purposes, go out and look for them yourself. Since the majority of 1972 cents show this doubling, you should easily find one for the cost of a “regular” 1972 Lincoln cent.
• None known Values: No extra value Comments: Shortly after the various obverse doubled die cent varieties were produced that year, the Lincoln cent master die for 1972 failed and a new one had to be produced. Clearly the Mint was having problems that year with the hubbing process as was evidenced by the many doubled die varieties produced. Those problems carried over to the second master die that was produced for the Lincoln cents that year. That second master die was produced with minor doubling. It is estimated that the doubled master die was created somewhere around April or May of 1972. All of the Lincoln cents struck by working dies that descended from the doubled master die show this minor doubling. The doubling can be seen on the letters of IGWT, the letters of LIBERTY, and very slightly on the date. Since 60% to 70% of all Lincoln cents for 1972 show this doubling, it is far too common to have any value. This includes 1972 P-Mint, D-Mint, and proof coins produced that year. Newer doubled die collectors should be very careful if responding to ads for 1972 doubled die Lincoln cents. There are individuals out there trying to sell specimens of this doubled master die for premiums far in excess of what they should be. You should not be paying more than the normal numismatic value of a 1972 cent for 1972 cents with this master die doubling. Those trying to sell them to unsuspecting buyers advertise them as “genuine doubled dies” which they are. The ads are truthful in that respect, but they fail to tell you that it is a specimen of the doubled master die that can easily be found without paying a premium for it. Back when they were first listed they were assigned a listing number of 1972 1¢ MD-5-O-I+II. Those trying to sell them at a premium identify them as “5-O-I+II” but they leave off the master die indicator “MD.” If you are fairly new to doubled die collecting, don’t let yourself fall victim to these scams. If you would like to add a specimen of the doubled master die to your collection for educational purposes, go out and look for them yourself. Since the majority of 1972 cents show this doubling, you should easily find one for the cost of a “regular” 1972 Lincoln cent.; Wexler Variety ID: 1972-S 1¢ WMDO-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References