2003 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-011

Description

Recorded by the Wexler Team, WDDR-011 on the 2003 Lincoln Memorial Cent presents doubling visible on the central right side of the sixth column to the left of the Lincoln statue within the Memorial, along with an extra knee that can be found above and between the statue's knees. The Lincoln Memorial reverse, designed by Frank Gasparro and in use from 1959 through 2008, features a remarkably detailed miniature rendering of the Lincoln Memorial building — including the tiny seated Lincoln statue visible between the central columns — and this fine detail is where the doubling of WDDR-011 is most apparent. The "extra knee" between the statue's knees is a particularly diagnostic feature, as it represents displaced hub detail from the secondary impression creating a phantom anatomical element that immediately identifies this variety to knowledgeable attributors. Die markers indicate no significant features on the obverse, while the reverse carries a die gouge to the right of the upper T in CENT. No cross-references to other attribution systems are currently known, with the Wexler designation serving as the primary reference. The 2003 Philadelphia Mint cent was produced during a period when billions of cents flowed annually from both Philadelphia and Denver, ensuring that each year's production consumed hundreds of die pairs. Eleven cataloged doubled die reverses for the 2003 date demonstrates the depth of variety research on Memorial Cents, a series that benefited from both high production volumes and a large base of dedicated collectors examining rolls and bags of newly minted coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by William Slaughter Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 2003 1¢ WDDR-011
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References