1969-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Living in the shadow of its legendary predecessor WDDO-001, the 1969-S Lincoln Memorial cent WDDO-002 is nonetheless a significant doubled die obverse in its own right. Attributed by the Wexler team and cross-referenced as CONECA 2-O-V and Coppercoins 1969S-1DO-003, this variety displays a clockwise (CW) spread — probably from a tilted hub rather than a simple rotation — showing on the top right side of the first 9, the lower half of the 6, and slightly on the top of the second 9 in the date. The tilted-hub attribution is significant: rather than the hub rotating in-plane between impressions (which produces Class V doubling with consistent directional spread), a tilted hub rocks along an axis, creating doubling that varies in direction across the die face and may appear as spread in one area while being absent in adjacent zones. Obverse die markers include a short die gouge extending ESE from the rim to the right of the top of the N in IN. On the reverse, a strong die scratch runs from SW to NE between the upper parts of the left vertical bar and the diagonal bar of the N in CENT, with numerous other die scratches found throughout the reverse. The variety requires careful examination of the date numerals under magnification to distinguish from both the major WDDO-001 variety and from mechanical doubling, which is particularly common on 1969-S cents.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jose’ Cortez Cross References: CONECA: 2-O-V, Coppercoins: 1969S-1DO-003
• CONECA: 2-O-V, Coppercoins: 1969S-1DO-003; Wexler Variety ID: 1969-S 1¢ WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References