1988 (D) Lincoln Memorial Cent - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team as 1988-D 1¢ WDDO-002, this doubled die obverse manifests as extra thickness on the date, eyelid, WE TRUST, and hairlines of Lincoln's portrait — a subtle but pervasive form of doubling that adds measurable width to multiple design elements across the obverse face. Rather than producing a cleanly separated secondary image, this type of close-spread doubling thickens the existing design, making letters appear bolder and portrait features slightly more pronounced than they should be relative to the original hub design. Diagnostic notches appear on the lower portions of the 1 and 9 in the date, on the lower right of the R in TRUST, and on the lower E in WE — these notches are small, sharp irregularities at the edges of design elements where the overlapping hub impressions create a stepped profile visible under magnification. Die markers include die scratches between the hair at the bottom back of Lincoln's head and the top back of the collar, providing a secondary identification point independent of the doubling itself. No significant reverse die markers have been noted, concentrating the full attribution burden on the obverse diagnostics. No cross-references to other attribution systems are currently known for this variety. Struck at the Denver Mint on copper-plated zinc planchets (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) at 2.5 grams and 19mm.

Cross References

• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1988-D 1¢ WDDO-002

External References