1964 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-033

Description

Emerging from the proof production at the Philadelphia Mint in 1964, WDDO-033 is a doubled die obverse variety found exclusively on proof Lincoln cents from that year's mintage of 3,950,762 pieces. Proof coins were struck on specially prepared polished planchets using chrome-plated dies that had themselves been polished to a mirror finish, and the higher-than-normal striking pressure ensured full metal flow into every design detail. Because proof dies had a service life of only approximately 3,000 strikes, any doubled die on a proof die affected a proportionally small number of coins. This limited production window makes proof doubled dies inherently scarcer than their business strike counterparts, where a single die might serve for hundreds of thousands of impressions. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID: 1964 1¢ Pr WDDO-033 and attributed by the Wexler Team, this variety has been verified by recognized die variety specialists. Collectors examining 1964 proof sets for doubled die varieties should work under strong, directional lighting that highlights the reflective proof fields, as the mirror surface can either amplify or mask subtle doubling depending on the viewing angle. Tilting the coin under the light source while examining LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date at 10x or higher magnification is the most effective technique for revealing proof hub doubling. 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-033
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References