1961 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002
Error
Description
Perhaps the most extensively documented doubled die reverse in the entire 1961 Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent series, WDDR-002 exhibits a Class II spread towards the center on ONE CENT, the designer's initials FG, both sides of the Memorial, and the letters of USA, with the strongest doubling concentrated on the lower left of the reverse. What sets this variety apart is its remarkable three-stage die marriage history, tracked across three different obverse dies paired successively with the same doubled reverse die. Obverse Stage A is identified by a die gouge almost touching the back of the bust south of the Y in LIBERTY and a die scratch running from WSW to ENE to the left of the bottom of the ear. Obverse Stage B introduces an entirely new obverse die, carrying a die gouge at the top of the hair south of the first T in TRUST. Obverse Stage C represents a third obverse die, distinguished by a die gouge south of the left side of the second T in TRUST. The reverse die itself progressed through three corresponding stages of deterioration. Reverse Stage A shows numerous fine die scratches running mostly north to south in bays 1 and 2, the upper part of bays 5, 6, and 7, and bay 11, along with a short diagonal die scratch below the second column. Reverse Stage B carries small die gouges to the left of the bottom of the left post, a small die gouge below the right side of the first column, and die pitting between the bottoms of the T and E in STATES. Reverse Stage C adds a die gouge between the tops of the C and A in AMERICA, another to the right of the top of the second A in AMERICA, and a short horizontal die gouge near the rim to the left of the left Memorial base. Cross-referenced as Coppercoins 1961P-1DR-001P and cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1961 1¢ Pr WDDR-002, this variety's three obverse die pairings and three reverse stage progressions provide collectors with an exceptionally rich set of diagnostics for precise die-state attribution.
Attribution History
- Coppercoins: 1961P-1DR-001P; Wexler Variety ID: 1961 1¢ Pr WDDR-002
- Expert attribution by Wexler Team