1972 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Primary doubled die reverse for the 1972 Eisenhower Dollar Type 1 — the most common of the three 1972 reverse varieties — WDDR-001 documents hub doubling on the reverse design that depicts an eagle landing on the lunar surface with Earth visible above. The Type 1 reverse is identified by its rendering of Earth's geography, with a somewhat less detailed treatment of continental outlines compared to the scarcer Type 2. Frank Gasparro adapted the design from the Apollo 11 mission patch, creating an iconic reverse that would serve the Eisenhower Dollar series throughout its 1971-1978 production run. Hub doubling on the large 38.1mm diameter dollar coin produces doubled design elements at a scale unmatched by any other circulating denomination, potentially visible to the unaided eye depending on the spread's magnitude. Attributed by the Wexler Team under Wexler Variety ID: 1972 $1 WDDR-001, this primary DDR designation marks it as the first-documented doubled die reverse for the 1972 Type 1 issue. The 1972 Philadelphia business strike Ike Dollar was produced in copper-nickel clad composition with a total mintage across all three reverse types of approximately 75.9 million pieces. As the most common reverse type, Type 1 specimens are the most available for cherry-picking, making WDDR-001 more accessible to variety collectors than its Type 2 and Type 3 counterparts — though finding confirmed DDR specimens still requires systematic examination of quantities of 1972-P Eisenhower Dollars.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1972 $1 WDDR-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References