1957-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-019

Description

Nineteenth in the extensive catalog of Denver Mint 1957 Lincoln Wheat Cent doubled die obverses, WDDO-019 documents one of the many hub misalignment events that occurred during the production of dies for this high-mintage penultimate-year issue. The Wexler Team cataloged this variety under Wexler Variety ID 1957-D 1c WDDO-019, and the remarkably high catalog number — nineteen DDOs for a single date-mintmark — speaks to the extraordinary volume of working dies consumed at the Denver facility in 1957. Denver produced 1,051,342,000 Lincoln cents that year, surpassing one billion pieces for the first time in the denomination's history at that mint. With production on that scale, hundreds of working dies were required, each receiving multiple hubbing impressions, and the statistical probability of at least some misalignment events was essentially certain. By 1957 the Wheat Cent had only one year of production remaining before the design transition, and collectors pursuing a comprehensive DDO set for the 1957-D face the daunting task of distinguishing nineteen (or more) individual varieties that share the same date, mintmark, and basic design. Attribution of WDDO-019 requires precise documentation of the spread direction on each affected obverse element — date, motto, LIBERTY — and comparison against all eighteen preceding catalog entries. Standard bronze composition (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) at 3.11 grams applies. Examination at 10x or higher magnification with directional lighting best reveals the secondary image displacement.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1957-D 1¢ WDDO-019
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References