1970-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-023

Description

Exhibiting a distinctive doubling pattern that manifests below the L in LIBERTY and above the 7 in the date, WDDO-023 on the 1970-D Lincoln Memorial cent demonstrates how hub displacement can produce visible effects at widely separated points on the die simultaneously. The combination of doubling below a letter and above a numeral suggests a displacement vector with both vertical and slight rotational components, as purely vertical movement would tend to shift all elements in the same direction. No cross-references to other attribution services have been established, with Wexler's documentation serving as the sole published source. The die markers for this variety are well-defined on both surfaces. On the obverse, a gouge extends from the center back of Lincoln's shoulder, while a curving scratch leads to the bottom left of the E in LIBERTY — two markers positioned in areas that typically survive moderate circulation wear, making this variety attributable even on coins grading below uncirculated. The reverse provides complementary confirmation through parallel scratches positioned to the right of the designer's initials FG (Frank Gasparro) and a scratch extending from the bottom of the Memorial structure. These four markers — shoulder gouge, LIBERTY scratch, FG scratches, and Memorial scratch — form a diagnostic constellation spread across multiple areas of both surfaces, reducing the risk of misattribution from reliance on any single feature. Collectors should note that the below-L doubling on LIBERTY may be more subtle than the above-7 date doubling, requiring careful magnification to confirm both components. Die Markers: Obverse: A short die gouge protrudes from the center back of the shoulder. A die scratch curves NNW from this die gouge running to the bottom left of the E in LIBERTY. Reverse: Parallel die scratches run from NNW to SSE to the right of the designer’s initials. A short die scratch runs south from the bottom of the Memorial near the right end.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Ribar Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1970-D 1¢ WDDO-023
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References