1964 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-019

Description

Found exclusively among the 3,950,762 proof Lincoln cents struck at Philadelphia in 1964, the WDDO-019 is a doubled die obverse variety whose proof strike type places a natural ceiling on the surviving population. Proof dies at the Philadelphia Mint were prepared with extraordinary care — polished to a mirror finish, chrome-plated for longevity, and retired after approximately 3,000 impressions to maintain the exacting quality standards expected of proof coinage. A doubled die on a proof die therefore affected at most a few thousand coins before the die was removed from service, a stark contrast to business strike dies that could produce hundreds of thousands of cents before retirement. The mirror-like fields of a proof coin can either enhance or conceal hub doubling depending on its severity and location: bold doubling stands out dramatically against the reflective surface, while very subtle doubling can be lost in the mirror finish. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID: 1964 1¢ Pr WDDO-019 and attributed by the Wexler Team, this variety carries the authentication of recognized specialists. Proof collectors seeking die varieties should examine their 1964 proof sets carefully under magnification, as many proof doubled dies went unrecognized for decades before variety collecting gained mainstream popularity. The higher striking pressure used for proofs can also sharpen the appearance of the doubled image. Struck on a 3.11-gram, 19mm bronze planchet of 95% copper and 5% tin-zinc.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1964 1¢ Pr WDDO-019
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References