1960 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

One of the most extensively documented doubled die reverse varieties in the 1960 Lincoln Memorial cent series, WDDR-001 on the Small Date regular strike exhibits strong Class VI extra thickness with some Class II separation spread towards the center on the letters of USA, ONE CENT, E PLURIBUS UNUM, the dots, the designer's initials, and both sides of the Memorial building. The breadth of affected design elements makes this among the most visually compelling DDR varieties in the entire Lincoln Memorial series. Four obverse die stages and four reverse die stages have been documented, tracing the die's progressive deterioration through its service life. Stage A obverse markers include an indentation between the upper W and E of WE, a die scratch from southwest to northeast above the 9, a long die scratch from north-northwest to south-southeast to the left of Lincoln's lower head, neck, and shoulder passing to the right of the Y in LIBERTY, a short die scratch running nearly north from the upper left of the Y in LIBERTY, a die scratch running north-northwest from the upper back of the shoulder, and die scratches from west-southwest to east-northeast between the upper T and Y of LIBERTY. By Stage B, these markers are much weaker but remain visible, and a small die gouge appears between the upper I and B of LIBERTY. Stage C shows the depression between the upper W and E of WE is no longer visible, and the die scratches around the Y of LIBERTY are very weak. Stage D matches Stage C. On the reverse, Stage A carries a small die gouge below the left side of the M in AMERICA. Stage B adds a die gouge between the R and I of AMERICA and a short vertical die gouge to the left of the upper second A in AMERICA. Stage C introduces a die gouge between the T and E of STATES, a large die gouge below the right side of the E in STATES, and a die crack on the right cornice. By Stage D, a die chip has developed on the upper 12th Memorial column. Cross-referenced as CONECA 2-R-II+VI, Crawford CDDR-001, and Coppercoins 1960P-1DR-002, this variety is cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1960 1¢ WDDR-001.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Frank Baumann Cross References: CONECA: 2-R-II+VI, Crawford: CDDR-001, Coppercoins: 1960P-1DR-002
• CONECA: 2-R-II+VI, Crawford: CDDR-001, Coppercoins: 1960P-1DR-002; Wexler Variety ID: 1960 1¢ WDDR-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References