2004 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-010

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team and cataloged as Wexler Variety ID 2004 1c WDDO-010 with no other known cross-references, this doubled die obverse on the 2004 Lincoln Memorial Cent presents extra thickness on the BERTY of LIBERTY with notches visible on the lower left of ERTY and the upper left T, accompanied by extra thickness on the hair details on the lower back of Lincoln's head. The obverse die markers include a small die gouge (dot) between the lower 2 and first zero in the date, plus a die gouge above the I of IN. The reverse carries a notable distinction: it is documented as a "wavy steps" variety, where the Memorial steps display an undulating or irregular pattern resulting from die distortion or multiple impressions affecting the horizontal step lines in Gasparro's design. This combination of obverse doubling with a reverse wavy steps anomaly creates a dual-feature variety of particular interest to specialized collectors. The notched appearance on ERTY — where the lower left edges of each letter show small step-like offsets — is diagnostically distinct from simple extra thickness because it indicates the secondary hub impression was offset both laterally and slightly vertically, producing a ledge or shelf effect on the letter strokes rather than uniform thickening. The 2004 Lincoln Memorial Cent was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in copper-plated zinc at 2.50 grams with a 19.0 mm diameter. The die gouge between the 2 and first 0 in the date serves as a primary authentication marker, readily identifiable under 7x magnification before proceeding to examine the subtler LIBERTY doubling and hair detail thickness under higher power.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Tony Russo Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 2004 1¢ WDDO-010
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References