1988 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-008

Description

Completing the Wexler doubled die obverse catalog for the 1988 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent, WDDO-008 presents strong spread on the date and IN GOD WE TRUST, weaker spread on LIBERTY, and visible doubling on the hair at the top front of Lincoln's head. The hair doubling is a particularly useful diagnostic — the fine, closely spaced hair lines in Lincoln's portrait create a region where even moderate hub misalignment produces visible separation between primary and secondary impressions, appearing as thickened or slightly offset hair strands. Die markers include a scratch between the W and E of WE and a distinctive gouge that appears as a dot below Lincoln's nose. The nose-area gouge is an especially memorable attribution point: its isolated position in an open field area of the die makes it immediately apparent under magnification and unlikely to be confused with other die imperfections. The reverse carries no noted die markers. As the eighth and final Wexler DDO for 1988 Philadelphia, WDDO-008 brings the total Wexler-cataloged doubled die obverse count for this date to eight — a substantial population that, combined with the five VarietyVista-attributed DDOs, gives the 1988 Philadelphia cent thirteen documented doubled die obverse varieties. Struck at Philadelphia on copper-plated zinc planchets at 2.5 grams and 19mm.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chris Freda Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1988 1¢ WDDO-008
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References