1988-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team as 1988-D 1¢ WDDR-001, this doubled die reverse documents hub doubling on the reverse die of a 1988-D Lincoln Memorial cent. Doubled die reverses arise from the same manufacturing mechanism as their obverse counterparts — the working hub impresses the die multiple times without perfectly re-registering between impressions — but applied to the reverse die rather than the obverse. The result is doubling visible on reverse design elements such as the Lincoln Memorial building, the denomination ONE CENT, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Reverse doubled dies are generally less widely collected than obverse doubled dies, partly because the reverse of the Lincoln Memorial cent has fewer fine-detail elements that showcase doubling dramatically, and partly because collectors tend to focus first on the obverse when hunting for varieties. However, doubled die reverses are no less significant from a die study perspective: each one documents a specific failure in the die-sinking process and contributes to the overall understanding of hub-to-die production quality at the Denver Mint during this period. The Wexler attribution system applies the same rigorous classification methodology to reverse doubled dies as to obverse varieties, including doubling class designation, spread direction, and die marker documentation. Struck at the Denver Mint on copper-plated zinc planchets (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) at 2.5 grams and 19mm.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1988-D 1¢ WDDR-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References