1986-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Sharing the same primary diagnostic as WDDO-001 — slight doubling on the lower ear — WDDO-002 on the 1986-D Lincoln Memorial cent originates from a different working die that received a similar hub doubling event during preparation. The overlap in doubling location between the two varieties presents an attribution challenge: collectors must rely on die markers rather than the doubling itself to determine which variety they hold. The first-section die markers of WDDO-002 closely parallel those of WDDO-001, reflecting similarities in the die preparation environment, but the two dies diverge in their secondary marker profiles. WDDO-001's additional documentation from James Cassin provides a second layer of markers absent from WDDO-002's records, making WDDO-001 the more comprehensively documented of the pair. When two doubled dies from the same date and mint show doubling on the same design element in the same direction, it can indicate a systematic issue in the hubbing process during that production period — perhaps a hub with a tendency to shift in a particular direction, affecting multiple working dies prepared from it. The 4.44 billion-cent Denver mintage of 1986 consumed thousands of dies, yet only two confirmed doubled die obverses have been cataloged. Struck at Denver on copper-plated zinc planchets at 2.5 grams and 19mm (Wexler ID: 1986-D 1¢ WDDO-002). Die Markers: Obverse: Die scratches extends NW from the 19 in the date. NW/SE die scratch in front of the chin. Weak NE/SW die scratch behind the head above the Y in LIBERTY. Small die gouge in front of the lower eyelid. Reverse: Die chips on the upper 10th column. Die gouge left of the U in UNITED. Small die gouge left of the lower 1st column.

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Cassin Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1986-D 1¢ WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References