1976 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-002

Description

Designated DDO-002 in the VarietyVista system for the 1976 Lincoln Memorial cent, this second doubled die obverse variety shares a similar doubling profile with DDO-001 — both exhibit strong extra thickness on LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date — but originates from a completely different die, as confirmed by its distinct Die Marriage Record designation DMR-00. The parallel doubling character between DDO-001 (DMR-002) and DDO-002 (DMR-00) suggests that both dies may have been produced under similar conditions during the hub-to-die transfer process, experiencing comparable distortion that manifested as extra thickness across the same design elements. Despite the visual similarity, the different DMR numbers establish that these are independent varieties from separate dies, each carrying its own unique secondary die markers that distinguish one from the other under careful examination. Philadelphia struck its 1976 cents without a mint mark from the standard 95% copper composition, and the high production volumes ensured that both DDO-001 and DDO-002 entered general circulation. Collectors who encounter a 1976 Philadelphia cent with strong extra thickness on LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date should consult the full diagnostic profiles for both DDO-001 and DDO-002 to determine which specific die produced the specimen, as the doubling character alone is not sufficient to distinguish between the two. Attribution by VarietyVista.

Die Markers

• DMR-00

External References