1972 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-005

Description

Displaying a very close Class I clockwise (CW) spread, WDDO-005 shows doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST, the lower LIB of LIBERTY, and the 72 in the date — a subtle but diagnostically confirmed doubled die that requires careful magnified examination for positive identification. Two obverse die stages and two reverse die stages have been documented, providing collectors with the die marker information necessary to confirm both the variety attribution and the specific die state of individual specimens. A notable diagnostic feature for this variety consists of two short markings above the bottom of the 2 in the date that bear a resemblance to the doubling seen on WDDO-009 — a similarity that has caused attribution confusion between the two varieties and requires collectors to examine additional die markers beyond just the date area to achieve positive identification. The resemblance between WDDO-005 and WDDO-009 in the date area illustrates a common challenge in doubled die attribution: when the Class I rotation produces similar displacement at a given design point on two different dies, that single feature cannot serve as a standalone diagnostic. Instead, attribution must rely on the combination of multiple die markers and the overall pattern of displacement across all affected elements. Cross-referenced with Wexler Variety ID 1972 1¢ WDDO-005. Among the 1972 Philadelphia doubled dies, WDDO-005 occupies the category of varieties that are genuine and attributable but require experienced examination — rewarding collectors who have developed the skill to distinguish very close doubled dies from normal strike characteristics. Die Markers: Obverse Stage A: A die gouge extends ESE from the rim above the right side of the O in GOD. A short die scratch extends ESE from the top right side of the E in WE. A small die gouge (dot) can be found just to the right of the lower nose. A short, diagonal die gouge can be seen just above the left end of the top of the 7. Obverse Stage B: A short, vertical die gouge can be found between the centers of the I and N of IN. Reverse Stage A: A small die gouge can be found to the right of the center of the I in UNITED. A short, diagonal die gouge can be found in the lower 3rd Memorial bay. Die scratches running SSW to NNE can be found near the centers of the 1st and 2nd Memorial bays.

Attribution History

• s:; Wexler Variety ID: 1972 1¢ WDDO-005
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References