1961 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-009

Description

Documented by the Wexler Team as 1961 1¢ Pr WDDR-009, this Proof doubled die reverse from the 1961 Lincoln Memorial Cent presents a spread towards the center on UNITED and ONE CENT — the two most prominent reverse inscriptions on Gasparro's Memorial design. The centripetal displacement on these inscriptions reflects a Class II distorted hub doubling event, where the secondary hub impression was shifted inward relative to the primary impression during die manufacture. Obverse die markers are not significant for this variety, but the reverse carries a useful diagnostic in the form of a small die gouge appearing as a dot below the E in AMERICA. This gouge dot, located in the field beneath AMERICA rather than within the doubling zone itself, provides an independent authentication point that collectors can use to confirm the specific die identity before committing to a final attribution. No cross-references to other attribution organizations are known. The close spread on both UNITED and ONE CENT means that moderate magnification — typically 7x or higher — is recommended for examination, with particular attention to the letter edges and crossbar terminals where the secondary image is most readily distinguished from the primary design. Among the seventeen documented DDR varieties for the 1961 Proof date, WDDR-009 occupies a middle position, and its two-inscription doubling pattern provides a distinctive signature within the broader series.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lou Coles Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1961 1¢ Pr WDDR-009
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References