1959 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-003
Error
Description
Discovered on the first-year Lincoln Memorial cent, WDDO-003 represents one of several doubled die obverse varieties produced when misalignment between hub impressions during die manufacture left a secondary image on the working die. Doubled die obverses from 1959 are historically significant because the Memorial reverse debuted that year, marking the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth and replacing the Wheat Ears design that had appeared since 1909. Collectors can authenticate this variety by its obverse die markers: numerous die scratches running mostly SSW to NNE can be found to the left of and to the right of the bust, providing reliable identification across specimens. No significant reverse die markers have been documented. Like many minor doubled die varieties from this era, WDDO-003 rewards careful examination under magnification and is most confidently attributed by comparing the doubled elements against known reference images.
Attribution History
- Discovered by Clarence Coon Cross References: CONECA: 1-O-II
- CONECA: 1-O-II; Wexler Variety ID: 1959 25¢ WDDO-003
- Expert attribution by Wexler Team