1956 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-013

Description

Produced exclusively as a proof issue, the 1956 Lincoln Wheat Cent carrying WDDR-013 originated from the Philadelphia Mint's proof production line, where dies received special preparation including chrome plating and polishing to achieve mirror-like surfaces. Hub doubling on proof dies is particularly significant because the controlled production environment means the doubling was present from the die's first strike, and the superior surface quality of proof coins can make subtle spread more visible than on business strikes. The 1956 proof set was one of the last to feature the Wheat Cent reverse before the transition to the Lincoln Memorial design in 1959, and proof collectors have scrutinized these final-era proofs extensively. WDDR-013 is the thirteenth documented doubled die reverse for the 1956 proof cent, a count that reflects how intensely variety specialists have examined this date. Each DDR preserves a unique hub misalignment event with its own spread direction and affected design elements. The "Pr" designation in the Wexler cross-reference confirms the proof-only status of this variety. Attributed by the Wexler Team under Wexler Variety ID: 1956 1¢ Pr WDDR-013, this variety appeals to collectors who specialize in proof die varieties, a niche within the broader doubled die collecting community that values the exceptional strike quality and surface preservation characteristic of proof coinage.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1956 1¢ Pr WDDR-013
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References