1972-S Proof Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Listed under the proof parent category, this entry documents the same die variety as 1972-S WDDO-002 — a proof Lincoln Memorial cent from the San Francisco Mint displaying a very close spread directed toward the center on the LI of LIBERTY. The doubling is subtle and confined to just two letters, requiring examination under at least 10x magnification for positive identification. As a proof striking, this coin exhibits the mirror-finish fields and sharp frosted device detail characteristic of San Francisco proof production, which actually aids in detecting even minimal doubling by providing a high-contrast surface against which any displaced design element stands out more clearly than it would on a business strike's satin or circulation-finish surface. No significant obverse or reverse die markers have been documented, meaning attribution relies entirely on confirming the spread on the LI letters and verifying the coin's proof status through its surface characteristics. The 1972 San Francisco proof cent production was limited to the quantity needed to fill proof set orders — a controlled mintage far smaller than the billions of business strikes produced at Philadelphia and Denver. This constrained production run means any die variety affecting a proof die appears on a correspondingly limited number of coins, giving proof doubled dies an inherent scarcity that business-strike varieties from the same year cannot match. Collectors assembling comprehensive sets of 1972-S proof varieties should examine the LIBERTY area of their specimens under magnification, looking specifically for the telltale displacement on the LI letters that identifies this variety.

Die Markers

• Obverse: None significant. Reverse: None significant.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wexler Team

External References