1995 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-003

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1995 1¢ WDDR-003, this Lincoln Memorial Cent carries the important notation that it is a replacement listing — the original WDDR-003 designation was assigned to a "wavy steps" variety that has since been delisted because wavy steps are no longer considered to be doubled dies by current attribution standards. This reclassification reflects the evolving understanding within the variety community regarding which die anomalies constitute genuine hub doubling versus other forms of die preparation artifacts or striking anomalies. Wavy steps — undulations visible in the Lincoln Memorial\'s staircase area — were once widely attributed as doubled die effects but are now understood to result from different mechanisms, potentially including die erosion, incomplete hubbing, or flow line patterns during striking. The replacement listing under the same WDDR-003 number maintains catalog continuity while updating the content to reflect a confirmed doubled die variety. No additional cross-references are currently known. The 1995 Lincoln Memorial Cent holds particular significance to variety collectors as the year of the celebrated 1995 Doubled Die Obverse, one of the most widely publicized modern doubled dies that brought national media attention to the hobby. The Memorial Cent was designed with Frank Gasparro\'s reverse depicting the Lincoln Memorial and Victor David Brenner\'s obverse portrait. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint in copper-plated zinc (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper), the coin weighs 2.50 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. The evolution from accepting wavy steps as doubled dies to rejecting them illustrates how numismatic attribution standards develop through ongoing research and scholarly debate within the error and variety community.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Marvin L. Young Cross References: None known Comments: This is a replacement listing. The original listing was a “wavy steps” variety. These are no longer considered to be doubled dies.
• None known Comments: This is a replacement listing. The original listing was a “wavy steps” variety. These are no longer considered to be doubled dies.; Wexler Variety ID: 1995 1¢ WDDR-003
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References