2015 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-021

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team as 2015 1-cent WDDO-021 with no other known cross-references, this Lincoln Shield Cent doubled die obverse shows extra thickness on the letters of LIBERTY with notches visible on the lower left of ERTY. The "notching" characteristic — small notch-like separations on the lower left portions of these letters — indicates the hub doubling produced a secondary impression offset slightly to the lower left, creating visible step-like discontinuities in the letter strokes where the primary and secondary images diverge. Obverse die markers include a pre-die crack depression running northwest/southeast through the top of the forehead — a notable feature because pre-die crack depressions (incuse lines in the die that have not yet developed into raised die cracks on coins) indicate stress concentrations in the die steel that would eventually develop into full die cracks. The reverse shows a short vertical die gouge at the rim above the E of E PLURIBUS UNUM, providing a secondary confirmation point. The Lincoln Shield Cent combines Victor David Brenner's iconic 1909 Lincoln portrait on the obverse with Lyndall Bass's 2010 Union Shield reverse. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint in copper-plated zinc composition (97.5% zinc core with 2.5% copper plating), the coin weighs 2.5 grams at 19.05 mm diameter with a plain edge. The pre-die crack depression through the forehead is particularly interesting from a die metallurgy perspective — it reveals internal stress patterns in the die steel that precede visible fracturing. For attribution, collectors should examine LIBERTY under 10x magnification, focusing on the lower left portions of E, R, T, and Y where the notching is most apparent, then verify the forehead depression and the reverse rim gouge above E to confirm the specific WDDO-021 die.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Dustin Ickow Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 2015 1¢ WDDO-021
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References