1972 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-005

Description

Listed as DDO-005 in the doubled die obverse catalog for the 1972 Philadelphia Lincoln cent, this variety exhibits a light Class I spread visible on the LIB of LIBERTY, the letters of IN GOD WE TRUST, and the 72 of the date. The doubling was created when the working die received a second impression from the working hub at a slightly different angle than the first — the defining mechanism of Class I (rotated) doubled dies, where the entire design shifts as a unit rather than individual elements spreading independently. This variety is cross-referenced as FS-105 in the Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties (catalog number 033.55), establishing its place in the standard reference literature for die variety collectors. Die markers include UVC-2288 (Universal Variety Code) and DMR-008 (Die Marriage Record), which together uniquely identify the specific obverse and reverse die pairing for this variety. The obverse die is classified as ODV-027a, the "Not Re-Engraved" variant — meaning the Lincoln bust tie area shows its original hubbing state without subsequent hand-engraving modifications by a Mint engraver. This distinction matters because ODV-027b dies (the "Re-Engraved" variant) show evidence of hand-reworking after the hubbing process, and separating the two allows attribution of doubled dies to specific die preparation sequences. Among the 1972 Philadelphia doubled dies, DDO-005 occupies a middle tier in terms of doubling strength — the light spread requires magnification to appreciate fully but is consistent and attributable once the correct diagnostics are identified.

Die Markers

• UVC-2288; DMR-008

Attribution History

• FS-105

External References