1952-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-004

Description

Fourth in the Wexler catalog for 1952-D Lincoln cent DDO varieties, WDDO-004 occupies an early catalog position that correlates with relatively accessible hub doubling diagnostics. Carrying Wexler Variety ID: 1952-D 1¢ WDDO-004, this die was documented by the Wexler Team as part of their multi-decade effort to catalog every identifiable doubled die in the Lincoln cent series. Denver's 1952 output of 746,130,000 cents falls in the upper tier of wheat cent annual production, and the correspondingly large number of obverse dies manufactured at Philadelphia generated at least eleven DDO varieties — of which WDDO-004 was among the earlier documented. Early catalog numbers in the Wexler system generally indicate varieties that either display the most prominent doubling or were among the first identified by researchers, and at position four, WDDO-004 likely presents doubling visible under moderate magnification on standard diagnostic areas of the obverse design. The inscriptions IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, and the date 1952 are the primary examination zones, where secondary hub displacement produces identifiable separation between the primary and secondary impressions. Collectors working through the 1952-D DDO family should note that this date benefits from relatively strong survival in Mint State condition due to the early 1950s roll-hoarding era, when bags and rolls of new cents were purchased by speculators anticipating future numismatic value. This preservation pattern means that BU examples of WDDO-004 with sharp, fully lustrous surfaces suitable for variety confirmation exist in greater numbers than typical circulated-only populations would provide.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1952-D 1¢ WDDO-004
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References