1988-D Transitional Reverse Design WTRD-009

Description

Distinguished by a cluster of gouges rather than fine scratches, WTRD-009 on the 1988-D Lincoln Memorial cent exhibits die markers of a different character than the scratch-dominant profiles seen on WTRD-007 and WTRD-008. The obverse displays gouges on Lincoln's vest and bust, a gouge to the left of the I in IN, a gouge inside the O of GOD, multiple gouges between the T and R in TRUST, and a scratch near Lincoln's nose and lips. On the reverse, a gouge appears to the right of the second A in AMERICA. Gouges typically result from harder impacts to the die face — foreign material caught between the die and a planchet, or contact damage during die handling and installation — while scratches arise from dragging contact with softer materials. The predominance of gouges on this die suggests it experienced rougher handling conditions than average, or encountered debris events during its service life at the Denver Mint. Crawford independently cataloged this variety as CTRD-008, providing a second reference point for collectors cross-checking attributions between the Wexler and Crawford numbering systems. Identified by the Wexler Team, this transitional reverse design was struck at Denver on copper-plated zinc planchets weighing 2.5 grams at 19mm diameter. Die Markers: Obverse: A die gouge can be found on the front edge of the vest WSW of the one in the date. A short, nearly vertical die gouge can be found on the bottom of the bust north of the V in the designer’s initials. A die gouge can be found to the left of the lower I of IN. A die gouge can be found inside the O of GOD. Two die gouges can be found between the bottoms of the T and R in TRUST. A die scratch runs from north to south to the right of the lower nose and the lips. Reverse: A short die gouge runs from SSW to NNE to the right of the bottom of the 2nd A in AMERICA.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bill Haase Cross References: Crawford: CTRD-008
• Crawford: CTRD-008; Wexler Variety ID: 1988-D 1¢ WTRD-009
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References