1978 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team as 1978 1¢ WDDO-001 and cross-referenced as Coppercoins 1978P-1DO-002, this doubled die obverse variety on the 1978 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent exhibits pronounced extra thickness on IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, and the date. The doubling affects all three primary obverse legend and numeral groups, indicating that the hub displacement during die manufacture was oriented in a direction that produced visible thickening across a broad area of the die face. Specific die markers anchor the attribution on both sides of the coin: on the obverse, a small die gouge appearing as a dot touches the upper right of the R in LIBERTY, providing a quick visual checkpoint for screening potential specimens. On the reverse, die scratches run SW/NE in the lower part of the last three Memorial bays — a diagnostic that confirms the specific die identity and eliminates confusion with other 1978 Philadelphia doubled die obverse varieties that might display similar doubling characteristics but originate from different dies. The cross-reference to Coppercoins 1978P-1DO-002 indicates that this is the second doubled die obverse cataloged for the 1978 Philadelphia date in the Coppercoins system, suggesting that at least one other DDO variety exists for this date-mint combination. Philadelphia produced its 1978 cents without a mint mark from 95% copper planchets, and the city's high production volumes ensured that doubled die varieties entered circulation where they remain discoverable through careful searching. Attribution by the Wexler Team.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Tanner Scott Cross References: Coppercoins: 1978P-1DO-002
• Coppercoins: 1978P-1DO-002; Wexler Variety ID: 1978 1¢ WDDO-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References