1sgret
08-20-2009, 04:40 PM
The two (2) 1983 Lincoln cent Specimens shown here have the Obverse die that was paired with the Major Doubled Die Variety listed in CherryPickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties and listed as the major doubled die FS-01-1983-801 (formerly 036) and in Wexler's Files as 1983 1c WDDR-001.
The interesting thing about these two coins is that the Obverse is not paired with the major doubled die reverse, but rather with two (2) non-doubled die reverses.
With the major DDR, a three coin sequence of stages for the obverse die can be tracked as follows.
Stage A: Obverse of FS-801 (WDDR-001) paired with Reverse of FS-801 (WDDR-001).
Stage B: Obverse of FS-801 (WDDR-001) paired with Reverse Die #2 (a non-doubled die reverse).
Stage C: Obverse of FS-801 (WDDR-001) paired with Reverse Die #3 (another non-doubled die reverse).
The existence of Stages B and C for the obverse die lends support to the belief that the 1983 FS-801 (1983 1c WDDR-001) major DDR was discovered and removed from service early in the die run limiting the number that were put into circulation.
The above information was provided by John A. Wexler.
I have provided some photos of key die markers for the Reverse Die #2 and Reverse Die #3 and the pictures of the markers follow after each picture of the encapsulated coins.
The Obverse markers are the die scratches above E in Liberty (arrowhead shaped).
Reverse Markers for Die #2 are Die Scratch through N of One and Die Scratch below the AM of AMERICA.
Reverse Markers for Die #3 are Die Gouge in upper 3rd bay and Die Crack on right cornice.
The interesting thing about these two coins is that the Obverse is not paired with the major doubled die reverse, but rather with two (2) non-doubled die reverses.
With the major DDR, a three coin sequence of stages for the obverse die can be tracked as follows.
Stage A: Obverse of FS-801 (WDDR-001) paired with Reverse of FS-801 (WDDR-001).
Stage B: Obverse of FS-801 (WDDR-001) paired with Reverse Die #2 (a non-doubled die reverse).
Stage C: Obverse of FS-801 (WDDR-001) paired with Reverse Die #3 (another non-doubled die reverse).
The existence of Stages B and C for the obverse die lends support to the belief that the 1983 FS-801 (1983 1c WDDR-001) major DDR was discovered and removed from service early in the die run limiting the number that were put into circulation.
The above information was provided by John A. Wexler.
I have provided some photos of key die markers for the Reverse Die #2 and Reverse Die #3 and the pictures of the markers follow after each picture of the encapsulated coins.
The Obverse markers are the die scratches above E in Liberty (arrowhead shaped).
Reverse Markers for Die #2 are Die Scratch through N of One and Die Scratch below the AM of AMERICA.
Reverse Markers for Die #3 are Die Gouge in upper 3rd bay and Die Crack on right cornice.