1963 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-022

Description

The twenty-second doubled die obverse cataloged for the 1963 P-mint Lincoln Memorial Cent, WDDO-022 carries an informative set of die markers on both sides that distinguish it from the many other DDO varieties documented for this date. On the obverse, die scratches can be found above the right side of the head under E in WE and extending to under the first T in IN GOD WE TRUST, a pattern of surface damage that spans a significant arc of the upper obverse field and provides multiple reference points for attribution. On the reverse, a die clash can be found in the upper eighth Memorial bay, indicating that the obverse and reverse dies made contact without an intervening planchet at some point during the die's service life, transferring a ghostly impression of one die's design elements onto the other. Die clashes are informative diagnostics because they are unique to a specific die pairing and can help establish whether a given DDO variety was used with one or more reverse dies during its lifetime. The Philadelphia Mint produced 754,110,000 business-strike cents in 1963, consuming large numbers of die pairs in the process, and each new pairing of dies after a replacement could introduce a different clash signature. Collectors should note that the combination of obverse die scratches extending from the head area through the motto and a reverse die clash in the eighth bay creates a strong multi-point attribution profile that can be verified under moderate magnification. The coin was struck on a 95% copper and 5% zinc planchet and carries Brenner's obverse paired with Gasparro's Memorial reverse.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Die scratches can be found above the right side of the head under E in WE and extending to under the first T in TRUST. Reverse: A die clash can be found in the upper 8th Memorial bay.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wexler Team

External References