1980-D Doubled Mint Mark WDMM-001

Description

One of the most historically significant attribution corrections in modern error numismatics, the 1980-D 1¢ WDMM-001 was originally classified as an overmintmark (D over S) and received listings from multiple major attribution services — CONECA cataloged it as OMM #1, Cherrypickers listed it as FS-01-1980D-501 (034.1), and Crawford designated it CDMM-001, while Coppercoins assigned it 1980D-1OM-001. What appeared to be an S mintmark positioned between the D mintmark and the digit 8 was for years accepted as evidence that a Denver die had been prepared using a San Francisco mintmark punch before receiving its proper D. However, Gary Darlington submitted an early die state specimen that definitively resolved the controversy: the apparent S was revealed to be indentations in the die — not a raised mint mark transferred from an S punch. Later abrading of the die during its service life coincidentally shaped these indentations into a form resembling an S mintmark, creating the illusion of an overmintmark on mid-to-late die state specimens. This discovery prompted reclassification from OMM to WDMM (doubled mint mark). The variety is documented across three obverse and three reverse stages: Obverse Stage A shows NE-to-SW die scratches in the field below RT of LIBERTY and NE-to-SW scratches at the 1 and 9 of the date; Obverse Stage B shows weakened LIBERTY scratches with date scratches abraded away; Obverse Stage C introduces a die gouge appearing as a dot in the field east of the forehead. Reverse Stage A displays NNW die scratches below M of UNUM; Reverse Stage B shows Stage A scratches abraded away with a weak SSW die scratch from the left center of the 11th column; Reverse Stage C exhibits a light die crack from the left base to the rim on the left side, plus die cracks on the 12th column with a large chip. This extensive six-stage documentation across both die faces makes WDMM-001 one of the most thoroughly studied varieties in the entire Lincoln Memorial cent series. Attribution by the Wexler Team.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Gary Darlington Cross References: Former CONECA: OMM #1, Cherrypickers: FS-01-1980D-501 (034.1), Crawford: CDMM-001, Coppercoins: 1980D-1OM-001 Comments: Gary Darlington submitted an early die state specimen that showed the S to be indentations in the die and not a raised mint mark. Later abrading created the illusion of an S mint mark.
• Former CONECA: OMM #1, Cherrypickers: FS-01-1980D-501 (034.1), Crawford: CDMM-001, Coppercoins: 1980D-1OM-001 Comments: Gary Darlington submitted an early die state specimen that showed the S to be indentations in the die and not a raised mint mark. Later abrading created the illusion of an S mint mark.; Wexler Variety ID: 1980-D 1¢ WDMM-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References