1962 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-039

Description

Notable for the quadrupled lower left corner of the numeral one in the date, the 1962 Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent WDDO-039 displays a striking multi-impression effect that goes beyond simple doubling to produce four overlapping images at that specific location — a feature that signals at least two separate hub displacements affecting the same area of the die. The variety also shows strong extra thickness on the date, LIBERTY, and IN GOD WE TRUST, along with a spread directed toward the rim on the date and the letters of TRUST. This combination of quadrupling at one point and strong thickening across broad inscription zones makes WDDO-039 one of the more complex and visually rewarding proof DDO varieties in the 1962 catalog. The variety carries the Wexler Variety ID 1962 1c Pr WDDO-039, with no additional cross-references currently known. It was struck at the Philadelphia Mint as part of the 1962 proof production of 3,218,019 sets. On the obverse, a very short diagonal die scratch extends from the rim above the O in GOD. No significant reverse die markers have been documented. The proof surface renders the quadrupled corner of the one with exceptional clarity, as the mirror-finish fields provide a high-contrast backdrop against which even closely spaced multiple impressions resolve into distinct outlines under 10x to 16x magnification. Collectors should pay particular attention to the lower left corner of the one, where the four overlapping images may appear as a series of stepped or cascading serifs radiating outward from the primary device.

Attribution History

• Discovered by David Bigelow Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1962 1¢ Pr WDDO-039
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References