1964 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-020

Description

Another proof-only doubled die obverse from the 1964 Philadelphia production, WDDO-020 belongs to the select group of hub doubling varieties that exist exclusively on coins struck from specially prepared proof dies. The 1964 proof Lincoln cent had a mintage of 3,950,762 pieces, but with proof dies limited to roughly 3,000 strikes each, multiple proof die pairs were required to fulfill the year's orders. Each proof die underwent the same hubbing process as business strike dies — receiving multiple impressions from the master hub — and any misalignment during that process created a doubled die that would affect only the small number of proofs struck before the die was retired. This production dynamic makes proof doubled dies inherently scarcer than their business strike counterparts, where a single die might produce 250,000 or more coins. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID: 1964 1¢ Pr WDDO-020 and attributed by the Wexler Team, this variety has been verified by recognized variety specialists. Collectors should note that 1964 proof cents often exhibit exceptional cameo contrast — deeply mirrored fields paired with heavily frosted devices — particularly on coins struck from fresh dies. When a doubled die coincides with strong cameo contrast, the resulting coin carries both variety and grade appeal, making it especially desirable in the marketplace. Struck on a polished 3.11-gram, 19mm bronze planchet of 95% copper and 5% tin-zinc.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1964 1¢ Pr WDDO-020
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References