1996 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-002

Description

Exhibiting medium spread on LIBERTY, the date, and Lincoln's vest area, DDO-002 on the 1996-P Lincoln Memorial Cent stands out for showing doubling on a portrait feature beyond lettering. While most Lincoln cent DDOs confine visible doubling to inscriptions and dates, the vest doubling on this variety means the hub displacement was sufficient in both magnitude and direction to produce detectable offset on the textured fabric detail of Lincoln's coat. Die markers UVC-2451 and DMR-003 fingerprint this working die. Medium spread indicates clearly discernible secondary images visible at moderate magnification. Victor David Brenner's Lincoln portrait, in continuous use since 1909, positions the vest below the bow tie, and the fine horizontal lines representing fabric folds provide sensitive diagnostic surfaces where even moderate hub offset creates visible doubling. The 1996-P cent was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in copper-plated zinc composition (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper plating) at 2.5 grams, with Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse. Collectors should examine all three areas — LIBERTY, date, and vest — to confirm this variety against DDO-001 and other 1996-P doubled dies.

Die Markers

• UVC-2451; DMR-003

External References