1972 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-022

Description

Standing apart from most 1972 Philadelphia doubled dies in the Wexler catalog, WDDO-022 exhibits a counterclockwise spread — visible to the right of the I of IN and as a partial horizontal bar of the "2" in the date just below the normal horizontal bar. This below-bar positioning is the reverse of what most 1972 WDDOs display (extra bar above), reflecting the different rotational direction of the hub during the doubling event. The variety also shows the master die doubling known for the 1972 date on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, confirming descent from the replacement master die, and making this a coin that carries evidence of two separate doubling events: the master die's Class I clockwise spread plus this working die's counterclockwise spread. No cross-references have been established (Wexler Variety ID: 1972 1¢ WDDO-022). The obverse reveals numerous die scratches: one running from southwest to northeast in the field to the left of Lincoln's shoulder; one running southwest from the lower back of the head; and numerous other die scratches throughout the obverse. The reverse shows parallel die scratches running south-southwest from the left side of the E in UNITED, with numerous light die scratches running from west-northwest to east-southeast above the Memorial. The abundance of die scratches on both sides indicates a heavily polished die — likely treated to extend its production life or remove incipient deterioration — which paradoxically preserved the doubled features in the recessed letters while smoothing the field surfaces. WDDO-022's counterclockwise spread makes it a diagnostically interesting complement to the clockwise-dominant majority of the 1972 doubled die census.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Matthew Sallee Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1972 1¢ WDDO-022
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References