1963-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-004

Description

Cataloged as the fourth Doubled Die Obverse for the 1963-D Lincoln Memorial Cent, WDDO-004 carries a Class V pivoted hub doubling with a clockwise spread that distinguishes it from the adjacent WDDO-003 despite both sharing the same general doubling class. The variety is cross-referenced as CONECA 6-O-V-CW and Coppercoins 1963D-1DO-003, placing it firmly within the established attribution network maintained by the major error-variety organizations. Attributed by the Wexler Team under the Wexler Variety ID 1963-D 1c WDDO-004, this die was one of hundreds employed at the Denver Mint during the record-setting 1963-D production run of 1,774,020,400 Lincoln cents — a figure so large that it ranks among the highest single-year, single-mint totals in the entire denomination's history stretching back to 1909. The massive demand for cent coinage in the early 1960s pushed die usage to its limits, and the repeated hubbing process required to produce each working die created multiple opportunities for the slight misalignments that result in doubled die varieties. Collectors should note that while WDDO-003 and WDDO-004 are both Class V clockwise varieties, they originated from different working dies and carry distinct die marker profiles — careful comparison of individual die scratches, gouges, and crack patterns is essential for precise attribution. A loupe of 7x or greater magnification will reveal the doubled elements, and cross-checking against the CONECA and Coppercoins references provides independent confirmation. The coin was struck on the standard 95% copper and 5% zinc planchet in use since 1962, bearing Brenner's obverse portrait and Gasparro's Memorial reverse.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: CONECA: 6-O-V-CW, Coppercoins: 1963D-1DO-003
• CONECA: 6-O-V-CW, Coppercoins: 1963D-1DO-003; Wexler Variety ID: 1963-D 1¢ WDDO-004
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References