1998-S Proof Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Proof dies are manufactured through the same hubbing process as business strike dies, making them equally susceptible to the alignment errors that create doubled dies. WDDR-001 on the 1998-S proof Lincoln Memorial cent documents hub doubling on the reverse of a coin struck at the San Francisco Mint on polished planchets using specially prepared dies. Neither obverse nor reverse carries significant die markers beyond the doubling itself, which means attribution depends entirely on identifying the spread pattern rather than confirming specific secondary diagnostics. The 1998-S proof cent was produced exclusively for inclusion in annual proof sets sold to collectors, resulting in a mintage of roughly 2.1 million pieces — a fraction of the billions struck for circulation at Philadelphia and Denver. Because proof coins are handled with care from the moment of manufacture, surviving examples tend to be in pristine condition, and any doubling present is usually sharp and unobscured by wear. Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse, with its columns, steps, and inscribed building text, offers multiple zones where reverse hub doubling can be identified, and collectors should methodically examine each architectural element under magnification to characterize the spread direction and class.

Die Markers

• Obverse: None significant. Reverse: None significant.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wexler Team

External References