1988-D Transitional Reverse Design WTRD-006

Description

Rounding out the 1988-D transitional reverse design census at six documented varieties, WTRD-006 is designated by the Wexler team and cross-referenced as Crawford CTRD-006. That six separate working dies were prepared with the wrong reverse hub — using the 1989 RDV-007 design instead of the 1988 RDV-006 — underscores the scope of the mix-up that occurred in the Denver Mint's die shop during the 1988-to-1989 production transition. Each TRD variety represents a unique working die, identifiable through its individual constellation of die markers, meaning the incorrect hub was used across multiple die preparation sessions rather than in a single batch error. Transitional reverse designs are prized by variety specialists because they document the internal workings of the Mint's die production process — a process normally invisible to collectors who see only the finished product. The diagnostic difference between the 1988 and 1989 reverse hubs lies in the positioning of the designer's initials FG, a detail that requires magnification but is consistent and repeatable once the collector knows what to look for. Struck at the Denver Mint on copper-plated zinc planchets (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) at 2.5 grams and 19mm.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Joseph Koelling Cross References: Crawford: CTRD-006
• Crawford: CTRD-006; Wexler Variety ID: 1988-D 1¢ WTRD-006
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References