1996-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-017

Description

Extending the 1996-D Denver Mint doubled die reverse catalog, WDDR-017 marks the seventeenth distinct working die identified with hub displacement on the Lincoln Memorial reverse for this single date. Cross-referenced as Wexler 1996-D 1-cent WDDR-017, this variety was discovered through the meticulous die-by-die examination methodology that defined 1990s variety research, when collectors submitted specimens to attribution services for professional assessment. Each WDDR number corresponds to a physically distinct reverse die whose unique combination of die markers, doubling characteristics, and progressive die states differentiates it from every other cataloged variety for the date. The Lincoln Memorial reverse, designed by Frank Gasparro and introduced in 1959, served the denomination for five decades and became the most extensively studied reverse design in American cent coinage. Its architectural precision — evenly spaced columns, geometric steps, and symmetrical facade — created a design where even minor hub displacement produces detectable anomalies, because any deviation from the building's strict bilateral symmetry stands out against the regular geometric framework.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1996-D 1¢ WDDR-017
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References