1996-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-004

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1996-D 1-cent WDDR-004 with no currently known cross-references to other classification systems, this Lincoln Memorial Cent exhibits doubling on the right side of both legs of the Lincoln statue within the Memorial — a localized reverse doubled die where the hub displacement primarily affected the statue detail in the center of the architectural design. Statue leg doubling on Memorial Cents is a diagnostic that requires moderate magnification to confirm, as the statue figure is small relative to the overall reverse design, but the doubled leg outlines provide clear secondary image separation once identified. Obverse die markers include a die gouge to the left of the G in GOD and a die gouge positioned north of the six in the date — two spatially separated markers that collectively fingerprint this specific obverse die. The reverse die carries a richer marker set: two die gouges to the right of the bottom of the second A in AMERICA, a die gouge to the right of the top of the last Memorial column, and a die gouge below the right base of the Memorial building — four reverse markers distributed across the lower half of the design that provide redundant confirmation points. The Lincoln Memorial Cent was struck at the Denver Mint in 1996 in copper-plated zinc composition (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) at 2.50 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter, with the obverse designed by Victor David Brenner and the reverse by Frank Gasparro. The Denver Mint's high-volume 1996 production generated numerous working dies, and the statue detail area — with its fine architectural lines and small figure — was particularly susceptible to showing even minor hub displacement. The concentration of doubling specifically on the statue's legs while other reverse elements appear normal indicates a very localized displacement geometry at that portion of the die face.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Ribar Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1996-D 1¢ WDDR-004
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References