1970-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-019

Description

A richly documented variety on the 1970-S Large Date Lincoln Memorial cent, WDDO-019 exhibits doubling below the L in LIBERTY and above the 7 in the date — two diagnostic zones where the secondary hub impression deposited extra metal offset from the primary design elements. The three-stage obverse paired with a three-stage reverse reveals an extended die life that generated multiple collectible die states, each with its own evolving surface characteristics. Die clash marks on the reverse provide additional attribution evidence: these transferred obverse design impressions were deposited during unintended die-to-die contact without a planchet, and a different reverse die was paired with this obverse at some point during production, indicating a die swap occurred. Die swaps are not uncommon in high-volume production — when one die in a pair wore out or was damaged, Mint personnel would replace it while continuing to use its still-serviceable partner, creating new die pairings mid-production run. No cross-references to CONECA, Crawford, or Coppercoins have been established for WDDO-019. The doubling below the L provides a particularly useful cherry-picking target because the area beneath LIBERTY's letters is relatively clean on a normal die — any extra metal or shelf-like feature in this zone immediately warrants closer inspection. Combined with the doubling above the 7, collectors have two independent diagnostic zones to confirm the variety, and the die clash marks on the reverse offer a third layer of confirmation for the specific die pairing. Die Markers: Obverse Stage A: A long die scratch runs SSW/NNE well north of the B in LIBERTY. This die scratch is visible on all known stages of this variety. Reverse Stage A: A die gouge touches the upper right of the N in UNITED. A small die gouge can be found to the left of the left Memorial base.

Attribution History

• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1970-S 1¢ WDDO-019
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References