1961 Proof Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

Carrying a Class II spread directed towards the center on ONE CENT, the designer's initials FG, both sides of the Memorial building, and the letters of USA, the 1961 Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent WDDR-002 exhibits its strongest doubling on the lower left portion of the reverse. The concentration of maximum displacement on the lower left — while the spread also touches both sides of the Memorial structure and the USA inscription — reveals the geometric characteristics of the hub distortion that produced this variety: the inward shift was most pronounced on the side of the die face corresponding to the lower-left reverse, diminishing as the distortion propagated toward other areas. The involvement of both the left and right sides of the Memorial building sets this variety apart from several other 1961 DDR entries that affect only inscriptions, since the architectural columns and cornices of Lincoln's Memorial provide extended linear elements on which the centripetal displacement manifests as a subtle but measurable thickening or offset. No significant reverse die markers have been noted. The Proof striking format, with its carefully prepared dies and controlled pressures, ensures that specimens of this variety typically survive with the sharp, well-defined surfaces necessary for resolving the close spread under magnification. Collectors should focus initial examination on the lower-left reverse — particularly the ONE CENT inscription and the left side of the Memorial — where the strongest displacement provides the clearest doubling signal.

Die Markers

• Obverse

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wexler Team

External References