1970 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

The first and only cataloged Wexler doubled die reverse for the 1970 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Memorial cent, WDDR-001 documents hub doubling on the coin's reverse — a less commonly collected category than doubled die obverses but one with a dedicated following among variety specialists who appreciate the distinct attribution challenges reverse doubling presents. The doubling manifests primarily in the lettering: the U, R, and B of PLURIBUS are spread towards the center of the coin, while the R, I, and second A in AMERICA show counterclockwise spread. Additional doubling appears on the upper left portion of the E in STATES, and the S in PLURIBUS may also exhibit doubling, though this last element is described as uncertain. Doubled die reverses are produced through the same mechanism as DDOs — misalignment between successive hub impressions during die manufacture — but they receive less collector attention because the reverse of Lincoln Memorial cents carries less visual complexity than the obverse portrait, making doubling both harder to detect and less aesthetically dramatic. This die carries notable die markers on the reverse: a strong die gouge at the rim above the E in STATES provides an unmistakable attribution checkpoint, while a raised line on the die surface (appearing as an incuse line on struck coins) runs between the lower E and R in AMERICA. No obverse die markers have been noted, indicating the obverse die paired with this doubled reverse was unremarkable. The combination of multiple spread directions — center-directed on PLURIBUS and counterclockwise on AMERICA — suggests a complex hubbing event involving both translational and rotational displacement.

Die Markers

• Obverse: None noted. Reverse: A strong die gouge can be found at the rim above the E in STATES. A raised line on the die appears as an incuse line between the lower E and R in AMERICA.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wexler Team

External References