1988 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-009

Description

Among the most spectacular Lincoln cent varieties of the late twentieth century, the 1988 WDDO-009 achieved landmark status when a PCGS MS63RB example realized $64,000 at Red Carpet Rarities Auctions in April 2026 — an extraordinary sum for a modern copper-plated zinc cent. Classified as a Class IV spread to the north, the doubling manifests as a strongly doubled lower ear with additional spread on surrounding hair details. Class IV offset doubling occurs when the hub shifts laterally between impressions, displacing design elements in a single direction rather than the radial separation of Class I varieties. The variety carries major cross-references: CONECA 3-O-VIII, Cherrypickers' Guide FS-01-1988-101, Crawford CDDO-008, and Coppercoins 1988P-1DO-010. On the obverse, numerous die scratches run mostly west to east above and below LIBERTY, additional scratches radiate in multiple directions in the field left of the upper head, a horizontal scratch appears below the N of IN, a die gouge protrudes from the center left side of the G in GOD, and a scratch runs northeast from the lower nose. The reverse exhibits end-of-die-state characteristics with no significant markers detected. Attributed by the Wexler Team and struck at Philadelphia on copper-plated zinc planchets at 2.5 grams and 19mm.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Christopher Beck Cross References: CONECA: 3-O-VIII, Cherrypickers’ Guide: FS-01-1988-101, Crawford: CDDO-008, Coppercoins: 1988P-1DO-010
• CONECA: 3-O-VIII, Cherrypickers’ Guide: FS-01-1988-101, Crawford: CDDO-008, Coppercoins: 1988P-1DO-010; Wexler Variety ID: 1988 1¢ WDDO-009
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References