1964-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-017

Description

Presenting a spread toward the center on at least USA, ONE CENT, and both sides of the Memorial, the 1964-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-017 is a variety whose doubling affects the lower reverse inscriptions and the architectural structure simultaneously. The qualifier "at least" in the doubling description suggests that additional design elements may show evidence of the spread that was not fully documented at the time of cataloging. The die markers for this variety include an obverse gouge to the left of the first T in TRUST and a set of reverse features that document significant die deterioration: a large die break on the right cornice, die cracks down the first two Memorial columns, a die gouge between the R and I in AMERICA, a dot-like die gouge just above the diagonal bar of the N in ONE, and two dot-like die gouges between the N in CENT and the Memorial. The large die break on the right cornice is a particularly striking feature — die breaks represent areas where a section of the die face has fractured and begun to separate or collapse, producing a raised, irregular area on the struck coin that can be visible even without magnification. Combined with the die cracks down the first two columns, these features indicate a die in an advanced state of structural fatigue, suggesting that coins struck from this die in its later stages would show progressively worsening breaks and cracks. The Denver Mint struck 3,799,071,500 cents in 1964 during the national coin shortage, the last year that Denver cents carried a mint mark before the 1965-67 suspension. Struck on a 95% copper and 5% tin-zinc planchet at 3.11 grams.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Die gouges left of first T in TRUST. Reverse: Large die break on right cornice. Die cracks down the first 2 memorial columns. Die gouge between R and I in AMERICA. Die gouge (dot) just above diagonal bar of N in ONE. Two die gouges (dots) between N in CENT and the memorial.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wexler Team

External References