1963-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-011

Description

Cataloged under the Wexler Variety ID 1963-D 1c WDDO-011 and attributed by the Wexler Team, this Doubled Die Obverse variety of the 1963-D Lincoln Memorial Cent exhibits doubling on the upper inside of the numeral 3 of the date — an area of involvement shared with the nearby WDDO-010 but produced by a different working die with its own distinct marker profile. The overlap in doubling location is not uncommon among 1963-D varieties: the massive Denver Mint production of 1,774,020,400 cents that year required an extraordinary number of working dies, and similar hubbing geometries could produce similar-looking doubling on multiple dies while the unique scratches, gouges, and crack patterns each die acquired independently during its service life remained different. It is precisely this combination of shared doubling characteristics and unique die markers that makes careful attribution essential — two varieties that look alike on the doubled elements alone can be definitively separated by their marker fingerprints. WDDO-011 shares its die marker profile with WDDO-010 in general configuration but is documented as a distinct die, confirming that the same type of hub misalignment occurred during the sinking of at least two separate working dies. No additional cross-references beyond the Wexler catalog are currently known for this variety. The coin was struck at the Denver Mint on the 95% copper and 5% zinc planchet that had become standard with the removal of tin from the alloy in 1962. Examination under magnification of at least 7x is recommended, focusing on the upper interior contour of the 3 where the doubled impression creates a visible separation line or shelf. Die Markers: Obverse: Diagonal die scratches run WNW/ESE through the date. A strong sort diagonal die gouge shows below and between the 1 and 9 of the date. Diagonal die scratches run WNW/ESE through LIBERTY. Reverse: A die gouge (dot) shows just right of the lower E in ONE. A die scratch runs across the upper vertical bar on the T in CENT into the field parallel to the top of the T. Die scratches run horizontally above and below the Memorial.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Frank Baumann Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1963-D 1¢ WDDO-011
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References