1963 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-046

Description

Rounding out a dense cluster of proof doubled die obverse varieties for the 1963 Lincoln Memorial Cent, WDDO-046 testifies to the sustained pace at which the Philadelphia Mint produced proof dies during the early 1960s and the inevitable hubbing imperfections that accompanied that production volume. Each proof working die was manufactured through the same multi-impression hubbing process used for business-strike dies, and any rotational or lateral displacement of the hub between impressions created a permanent secondary design image that the chrome plating and polishing steps could not erase. The resulting doubled die passed through all subsequent quality checks and entered the proof press line, where it struck coins at elevated pressure on polished planchets, producing pieces with mirror fields, frosted devices, and the embedded doubling that variety collectors prize. Cataloged under Wexler Variety ID 1963 1c Pr WDDO-046 and attributed by the Wexler Team, this variety joins a proof DDO census for 1963 that continues to expand as specialized collectors systematically examine the surviving proof sets from this date. The total proof mintage of 3,075,645 pieces, each individually struck, makes 1963 proof sets relatively available for variety searching. The 95% copper and 5% zinc planchet carries Victor David Brenner's obverse portrait and Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse. With 1963 marking the final year of uninterrupted proof set production before the coin shortage suspension, proof varieties from this date possess both numismatic and historical interest.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1963 1¢ Pr WDDO-046
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References