1964 Proof Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-035

Description

Numbered thirty-five in the Proof-prefixed doubled die obverse catalog for the 1964 Lincoln cent, this variety adds to the substantial roster of proof hub doubling varieties that have been documented for the date. The 1964 proof cent holds a distinctive place in Lincoln cent collecting history: it was the last proof cent struck at the Philadelphia Mint, as the 1965-67 suspension of proof sets and their subsequent transfer to the San Francisco Mint meant Philadelphia never again produced proof Lincoln cents. This historical finality gives all 1964 Philadelphia proof varieties a unique provenance that cannot be duplicated. The proof die manufacturing process was mechanically identical to the business strike process in terms of hubbing — the same hub was pressed into die blanks under similar conditions — but proof dies received additional surface preparation (polishing and chrome plating) after the hubbing was complete. Any doubled die created during hubbing was therefore locked into the die before the proof finishing steps were applied. No specific doubling description, die markers, cross-references, or expert attributions have been published for this variety. Collectors should examine proof specimens under magnification, using directional lighting to separate genuine hub doubling from the reflective optical effects that are common on mirror-surface proof coins. Struck on a polished 3.11-gram, 19mm bronze planchet of 95% copper and 5% tin-zinc.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wexler Team

External References