1972 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

First-cataloged doubled die reverse for the 1972 Eisenhower Dollar Type 2, WDDR-001 holds the primary position in the DDR catalog for what collectors consider the scarcest of the three 1972 reverse varieties. The Type 2 reverse is identified by a more detailed and pronounced rendering of the Earth's continental outlines visible in the background of Frank Gasparro's Apollo 11-inspired eagle-landing design, distinguishing it from the weaker Type 1 and the modified Type 3 treatments of Earth's geography. Hub doubling on the 38.1mm Eisenhower Dollar creates doubled design elements at a scale larger than any other circulating U.S. denomination, making DDR characteristics more accessible to visual inspection. Attributed by the Wexler Team under Wexler Variety ID: 1972 $1 WDDR-001, the primary DDR status makes this variety the starting point for collectors exploring Eisenhower Dollar die varieties on the Type 2 reverse. The Eisenhower Dollar series (1971-1978) was struck in copper-nickel clad composition for circulation, with 40% silver collector versions produced at San Francisco. Philadelphia's 1972 Ike Dollar production of approximately 75.9 million pieces encompassed all three reverse types, though their relative proportions remain a matter of collector research and debate. The Type 2 reverse's inherent scarcity compounds the challenge of locating WDDR-001 specimens, creating a variety that is doubly elusive.

Attribution History

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

External References