1972 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-020

Description

Attributed as Wexler Variety ID 1972 1¢ WDDO-020, this Philadelphia mint doubled die obverse shows a clockwise spread manifesting as an extra horizontal bar of the "2" in the date above the normal horizontal bar. The variety confirms the presence of master die doubling on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, consistent with descent from the replacement master die. No external cross-references have been established. The obverse die markers are particularly well-distributed: a small die gouge appears in the field to the left of the back of the neck; a die scratch runs south-southwest from the top left of the T in LIBERTY; and two parallel die scratches run north-northeast from the top of the Y in LIBERTY. The parallel scratches from the Y represent a distinctive and relatively easy-to-spot diagnostic for collectors screening potential candidates. Reverse markers include a small die gouge to the left of the upper O in OF; two parallel die scratches running west-northwest from the upper left E in CENT; and a die scratch running east-northeast from the right end of the center horizontal bar of the E in ONE. The dispersed nature of the markers across both sides — from Lincoln's neck field to LIBERTY on the obverse, and from OF to CENT to ONE on the reverse — provides collectors with multiple independent confirmation points. WDDO-020 sits squarely in the middle range of the 1972 minor doubled die catalog, sharing the fundamental "extra bar on the 2" characteristic with its neighbors while remaining distinguishable through its unique combination of die surface features.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Ribar Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1972 1¢ WDDO-020
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References