1959 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-006

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1959 1¢ WDDR-006, this Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Memorial Cent was struck during the first year of Frank Gasparro's Memorial reverse design, which replaced the Wheat reverse in 1959. The doubled die reverse shows a close spread toward center on CENT, AMERICA, the designer's initials, and the right side of the Lincoln Memorial building. Obverse die markers include a die gouge to the right of center of the five in the date and a short die scratch southwest from the lower left of the O in GOD. The reverse carries a die gouge right of the lower right cornice and die pitting below the right side of the Memorial. As a first-year-of-issue variety, WDDR-006 documents that hub doubling was present from the very start of Memorial Cent production. The transition from Wheat to Memorial reverse in 1959 is one of the most significant design changes in Lincoln Cent history, and doubled die varieties from the inaugural year hold particular interest for specialists. Struck in 95% copper bronze, the 1959 Philadelphia Cent saw massive production as the new design generated strong collector demand.

Attribution History

• Discovered by James C. Moreland Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1959 1¢ WDDR-006
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References