1983 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-005

Description

Exhibiting a distinctive clockwise rotational spread pivoting from approximately 5 o'clock, WDDO-005 produces visible doubling on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST on the 1983 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent. Cross-referenced as Crawford CDDO-002 and Wexler WDDO-005, this variety is documented across three progressive die states that chronicle the die's full service life. At Stage A, the obverse shows a small die gouge to the right of the lower I in IN, serving as an early-state attribution marker. Stage B introduces a very strong die gouge between the rim and the base of the bust at approximately 5 o'clock — a dramatic diagnostic feature that makes mid-life specimens immediately identifiable. By Stage C, die abrading has weakened this gouge, demonstrating how Mint maintenance operations can alter diagnostic features over time. The reverse carries its own identifying marks across all stages: two diagonal die scratches inside the second bay of the Memorial, a short die scratch inside the C of AMERICA, and a die crack running from the lower right Memorial to the rim. The clockwise rotation from 5 o'clock positions the pivot point near the lower right of the obverse, meaning design elements farthest from that axis — particularly the upper portions of LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST — display the most pronounced displacement. Attribution by Wexler Team.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Matt Walton Cross References: Crawford: CDDO-002
• Crawford: CDDO-002; Wexler Variety ID: 1983 1¢ WDDO-005
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References