2008 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-003

Description

Third doubled die reverse documented for the 2008 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Memorial Cent, this variety holds special significance as the terminal year of the Lincoln Memorial reverse design that had served continuously from 1959 through 2008 — a forty-nine-year production span that made it one of the longest-running reverse designs in U.S. coinage history. Die markers include obverse diagnostics for attribution of this specific die pair. Doubled die reverses result from misalignment between the hub and die during the hubbing process, where one or more impressions transfer a secondary offset image of the design onto the working die. The 2008-P cent was the last Philadelphia-minted coin to carry Gasparro's Memorial reverse, as 2009 introduced four new bicentennial reverse designs honoring Abraham Lincoln's birth, formative years, professional life, and presidency, followed by the Shield reverse adopted in 2010. Only three DDRs documented for the 2008-P date is a comparatively modest count, possibly reflecting reduced production volume as the Mint prepared for the transition. The 2008 date thus represents a closing chapter for both the design and its associated die variety record, making varieties from this terminal year of particular interest to Memorial Cent specialists.

Die Markers

• Obverse

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wexler Team

External References