2010 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-004

Description

Fourth in the Wexler obverse doubled die census for the 2010 Lincoln Shield cent, WDDO-004 displays extra thickness on the ERTY letters of LIBERTY, with the doubling best seen on the top left of the letter Y and notching visible on the bottom right of the affected letters. The Lincoln Shield cent, introduced in 2010 with Lyndall Bass's Union Shield reverse replacing the four commemorative 2009 bicentennial reverses, continues Victor David Brenner's iconic Lincoln portrait on the obverse — now paired with a shield design symbolizing Lincoln's preservation of the Union. The Wexler Team cataloged this variety under Wexler Variety ID: 2010 1c WDDO-004, noting no significant obverse die markers and an early die state reverse with no significant reverse markers. The EDS reverse notation indicates the die was examined early in its production life, suggesting the specimen or specimens used for documentation were struck before significant die wear developed. Philadelphia's 2010 cent production totaled approximately 1.96 billion pieces, an enormous output that consumed vast numbers of working dies. The extra thickness on ERTY — affecting four consecutive letters of LIBERTY while apparently sparing the LIB portion — indicates a hub displacement that influenced the right side of the inscription more than the left. The specific notation that the doubling is best seen on the top left of Y provides a precise focal point for authentication, while the notching on the bottom right of the letters describes step-like serrations where the secondary impression creates a visible ledge along the lower-right edges of the letterforms. Collectors should use 15-20x magnification on the Y of LIBERTY first, examining the top-left area for extra thickness, then checking the bottom-right edges of ERTY for the characteristic notching pattern.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Allen Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 2010 1¢ WDDO-004
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References