1976 Variety WMDO-001

Description

Classified as a master die doubling obverse rather than a standard doubled die, the 1976 Bicentennial Eisenhower Dollar WMDO-001 displays Class II doubling toward the center on the dates — the dual date "1776-1976" that distinguished all Bicentennial coinage. The critical distinction of a master die doubling variety is that the doubling occurred at the master die level rather than on individual working dies, meaning every working die produced from the affected master die carries the same doubling. This makes WMDO-001 fundamentally different from a standard DDO: while a regular doubled die affects only the coins struck from one specific working die, a master die doubling can appear on coins struck from many different working dies over an extended production period. The Wexler Team notes that die markers will vary on different working dies for both obverse and reverse — a direct consequence of the master die origin, since each working die develops its own unique die markers during use even though all share the common master die doubling. Cross-referenced as CONECA MD-1-O-II and carrying the Wexler Variety ID 1976 $1 WMDO-001, this variety is recognized across major attribution systems. The Bicentennial Eisenhower Dollar, featuring Dennis R. Williams' Liberty Bell superimposed over the Moon on the reverse, was struck in both copper-nickel clad and 40% silver versions at multiple mint facilities throughout 1975 and 1976 — the only United States coins to bear a dual date since special commemorative provisions were enacted for the nation's 200th anniversary.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Not noted Cross References: CONECA: MD-1-O-II
• CONECA: MD-1-O-II; Wexler Variety ID: 1976 $1 WMDO-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References