2003 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-008

Description

Documented by the Wexler Team with the attribution 2003 1-cent WDDR-008, this Lincoln Memorial Cent doubled die reverse shows doubling on the lower right side of the sixth column to the left of the statue's legs and between the statue's legs — a precise architectural location within Frank Gasparro's detailed Memorial reverse design. The doubling's appearance in the columnar area of the Memorial demonstrates how even subtle hub misalignment during die preparation can create visible displacement on the finely engraved architectural elements. Die markers provide reliable secondary attribution: a small die gouge appearing as a dot to the right of the lower bust on the obverse, and another small die gouge between the N and E of ONE on the reverse. These gouges — created by accidental contact with hard objects during die handling — remain constant across all specimens struck from this die pair, serving as fingerprints for positive identification even when the primary doubling is faint or partially worn. No cross-references to other attribution systems are currently known, making the Wexler designation the sole cataloging authority for this variety. The 2003-P Lincoln Memorial Cent was produced during the final years of the Memorial reverse design, which would be replaced by four bicentennial reverse designs in 2009 and then the Shield reverse in 2010. Eight doubled die reverses documented by the Wexler Team for 2003 reflects the continued discovery of die varieties on a denomination produced in enormous quantities, where systematic roll searching by dedicated collectors steadily expands the known catalog.

Attribution History

• Discovered by William Slaughter Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 2003 1¢ WDDR-008
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References