1977 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team as 1977 1¢ WDDR-001, this doubled die reverse on the 1977 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Memorial cent exhibits a Class II spread towards the center visible on the lower letters of ONE CENT and the upper letters of UNITED. Class II doubling is caused by a slight rotational displacement of the hub between successive impressions during the die manufacturing process, producing a pivoted spread that is strongest at points farthest from the axis of rotation. The concentration of the visible doubling on both the lower letters of ONE CENT and the upper letters of UNITED indicates that these design elements occupied positions where the rotational spread was most pronounced, while elements closer to the pivot axis show little or no detectable displacement. No die markers were noted on the obverse for this variety. On the reverse, a short diagonal die scratch can be found between the upper I and C in AMERICA, and two short die scratches run north-northeast from the bottom of the second Memorial bay. These reverse die markers, though modest in number, provide the diagnostic fingerprint needed to confirm a specimen's attribution to this specific die. Philadelphia struck its 1977 cents without a mint mark from the standard 95% copper alloy composition, and the high production volumes ensured that WDDR-001 entered general circulation. No additional cross-reference numbers beyond the Wexler designation are known. Attribution by the Wexler Team.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jennifer Casazza Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1977 1¢ WDDR-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References