1939 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-005

Description

Fifth cataloged doubled die obverse for the 1939 Lincoln Wheat Cent, attributed by the Wexler Team, this variety shows a doubled eyelid north of Lincoln's primary eyelid — the same type of diagnostic that makes Lincoln portrait doubled dies among the most identifiable in the series. Obverse die markers include a heavy east-northeast die scratch from the right center of the N in IN, plus a series of die scratches running in different directions throughout the IN GOD WE TRUST motto. The reverse is listed as WDDR-006, meaning the same die pair also exhibits a doubled die reverse, making this an obverse-reverse doubled die combination — a particularly desirable pairing for variety collectors. A west-southwest die scratch runs from the rim centered above the S of PLURIBUS and the right dot on the reverse. The 1939 Lincoln Cent was struck at Philadelphia during the final pre-war year, with a mintage exceeding 316 million pieces. No alternative cross-references are known beyond the Wexler designation. The combination of an obverse doubled die paired with a reverse doubled die on the same die marriage means collectors can document two varieties on a single coin, and the extensive die scratches throughout IGWT provide robust secondary markers for confident attribution.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Frank Baumann Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1939 1¢ WDDO-005
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References