1886 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team under Variety ID 1886 $1 WDDR-001 with no other known cross-references, this Large Indian Princess Head Gold Dollar exhibits very minor doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST, with the most visible doubling evident on the bottom of the letters TRU, along with extra thickness on the tips of the eagle's wing feathers. The obverse die markers are distinctive: a light die crack runs at the base of the bust, and strong die polish lines fill all recessed areas of the hair, ear, and nostril — evidence that the die received extensive polishing during or after manufacture. No significant reverse markers were noted. The Large Indian Princess Head Gold Dollar, designed by James B. Longacre, was produced from 1856 through 1889 with the Type 3 enlarged head design that replaced the smaller Type 2 head of 1854-1856. The 1886 issue had a modest mintage of approximately 5,000 business strike coins, making any die variety from this date quite scarce in absolute terms. Gold dollar production in the 1880s was winding down as the denomination became increasingly impractical for commerce, and the small dies used for this tiny coin (just 13mm in diameter) made them particularly susceptible to die cracks and stress-related issues. The strong die polish lines in the recessed areas suggest the Mint attempted to extend the life of this die through aggressive maintenance.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler (Photos by Brian Allen) Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1886 $1 WDDR-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References