2011 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-008

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team as the eighth cataloged doubled die obverse for the 2011 Lincoln Shield Cent, WDDO-008 presents light extra thickness on LIBERTY with a specific diagnostic: the top right of the Y appears thicker than the top left of the Y, along with notches visible on the bottom left of the RTY of LIBERTY. This asymmetric thickening pattern indicates the hub impressed the die at a very slight angular shift, concentrating the doubling effect on one side of each letter rather than producing a uniform spread. Die markers for positive attribution include an obverse die scratch running SSW/NNE below the right side of the L in LIBERTY, with no significant reverse markers noted. Cross-referenced under Wexler Variety ID: 2011 1-cent WDDO-008 with no additional known cross-references, this variety was produced early in the Union Shield reverse era — 2011 being only the second year of Lyndall Bass's design that replaced the four 2009 bicentennial reverses. The "extra thickness" classification of doubling differs from the more dramatic spread doubling seen on famous varieties like the 1955 and 1972 doubled dies; instead, it represents a very close secondary hubbing impression that adds mass to the letters without creating a clearly separated doubled image. Eight documented doubled die obverses for a single year of Shield Cent production reflects the ongoing occurrence of hubbing misalignments in modern die production, even with advanced manufacturing technology. The notching diagnostic on the RTY of LIBERTY provides a quick attribution check visible under moderate magnification.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Dustin Ickow Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 2011 1¢ WDDO-008
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References