1997 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-028

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1997 1¢ WDDR-028, this Lincoln Memorial Cent carries an extensive set of die markers across both faces that serve as attribution fingerprints for this specific working die pair. The obverse markers include a die gouge above the left upright of N in IN, a die gouge well south of the N in IN, and a die gouge between the N of IN and the G of GOD — three closely spaced but distinct marks in the IN GOD region of the motto. The reverse presents a large die chip at the left cornice of the Lincoln Memorial, several small die chips between the I and T of UNITED, a die gouge near the rim east of the T in CENT, and a die gouge just under the right side of the horizontal bar of the T in CENT. While the original description focuses on die markers rather than the specific doubling characteristics, the WDDR designation confirms this as a doubled die reverse variety where hub doubling occurred during the die manufacturing process. No additional cross-references beyond the Wexler designation are currently known. The Lincoln Memorial Cent was designed by Frank Gasparro for the reverse and Victor David Brenner for the obverse, struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1997 in copper-plated zinc composition (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) weighing 2.5 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. The abundance of die markers on this variety — seven distinct gouges and chips distributed across both faces — provides collectors with an unusually rich set of secondary identification points, making attribution more confident once the primary doubled die features are located. The cluster of three obverse gouges near the IN GOD inscription creates a particularly efficient rapid-check sequence for initial screening.

Attribution History

• s:; Wexler Variety ID: 1997 1¢ WDDR-028
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References