Wexler's Coins and Die Varieties

This page was last updated on January 3, 2012.

The purpose of this page is to provide you with some of the latest news about die varieties and error coins. Items on this page are not permanent postings. Check back often!

Thanks to Leonard Schulfer, the number of states with doubled dies on their State Quarters has climbed from 28 to 31. The three states added to the list with doubled die State Quarters are Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

All three of the new states are represented with new "doubled earlobe" varieties on the obverse of the quarters. Mr. Schulfer actually submitted five new "doubled earlobe" varieties, but two of them were for states that already had doubled die listings.

That brings the list down to just 19 more states needed with doubled dies to make it possible to complete a set of Statehood Quarters from all 50 states with doubled dies. To view the new listings just go to the New Listings page. (Posted January 3, 2012)

Information and photos for the 1924-S 1¢ WDDR-001 and 1925-S 1¢ WDDO-001 Lincoln cent doubled die varieties have been added to their respective doubled die pages. This is part of an on-going quest to illustrate all of the "Best Of" doubled die varieties listed in the Wexler Doubled Die Files here on this website.

We hope to accelerate progress on that goal as we move into 2012 and won't be able announce the new additions on this page each time that we make those additions. If you come to this website and see from the date on the Home Page that updates to the site have been made, but you don't see any new information on the New Listings page or the News page, then in all likelihood the updates involved adding information and/or photos to the "Best Of" doubled dies pages. (Posted December 24, 2011)

As we move into 2012 we will be making a format change to the pages devoted to the "Best Of" the doubled die varieties. Until now we were setting things up so that each best of variety would have its own page. However, as the number of doubled die varieties that qualify for "Best Of" status continues to grow, it is apparent that the current format will become unwieldy in terms of the number of pages needed.

The new format will place all of the "Best Of" varieties for a particular date, mint mark, and denomination on the same page. For example, we have identified four 1909 P-Mint Lincoln cent doubled die varieties as "Best Of" varieties for the Lincoln Wheat cent doubled dies. Previously we would have needed four different pages to illustrate those varieties, but under the new format all four varieties will be illustrated on the same page. To view that page, just click on the following link: 1909 1¢

As we move towards getting the information and photos of the various "Best Of" doubled dies onto this website the old format will disappear and the new one will take its place. We hope that you approve. (Posted December 23, 2011)

A new stage, Stage D, has been added for the 2009 Formative Years Lincoln cent doubled die that we have listed as 2009 1¢ FY WDDR-013. The new stage was submitted by die variety enthusiast Cathy Barker.

The news of this new stage marks the end of an era. While we will continue to add new stage information to the 2009 Lincoln cent doubled die listings as they are reported, we will no longer be reporting these new stages as news items on this page. We feel that to do so suggests that we encourage collectors to collect these varieties by stages when in fact we do not.

The recording of die markers and staging information has always been important in die variety collecting to help collectors clearly identify a given variety, or as a means of distinguishing one variety from another when the varieties are very similar in appearance. When the lesser 1972 Lincoln cent doubled die varieties were being discovered, Obverse Die #3 (WDDO-003) was originally listed as two different varieties, as the die markers are radically different between early die state and late die state coins. It was only when an intermediate stage was found that bore markers from both the early and late die states that it was realized that just one variety was involved.

The fascination with the stages of the 2009 Lincoln cent doubled die varieties has proven to be an interesting phenomenon within the die variety hobby, but this fascination is limited to a very small segment of that hobby. We do encourage those who collect these varieties to continue monitoring the listing pages for these varieties where the updates will ocntinue to be made. (Posted November 8, 2011)

Thanks to Frank Guzman, new stages have been added for 2009 1¢ FY WDDR-054 and for 2009 1¢ FY WDDR-058. One new stage was added for FY WDDR-054 while two new stages were added for FY WDDR-058. Those who are collecting these varieties by their stages need to examine the new information carefully to make sure that the coins in their collections are properly identified based on the new information.

The new stages bring the total number of coins needed to assemble a set of the 2009 Lincoln cent doubled dies that would include all of the known stages to 683. As more varieties and more new stages are reported, that number will continue to rise. To view the new staging information just click on the following link: 2009 Formative Years 1¢ Reverse Doubled Dies (Posted November 1, 2011)

Specimens of of the newly listed 1988-D 1¢ WTRD-009 and WTRD-010 that were submitted to ANACS by die variety collector Joseph Koelling have come back from ANACS slabbed with an AU58 grade. WTRD-010 was first reported by Koelling and came back with the "Wexler Discovery Piece" designation on the slab. Mr. Koelling was kind enough to submit images of these slabs. (Posted October 24, 2011)

Thanks to Franklin Idelowitcz I have been able to update the photo file for the 1972 Lincoln cent doubled die variety that I have listed as WDDO-009. Prior to this I only had black and white photos for Stage A of this variety, but thanks to Mr. Idelowitcz these have been replaced with color photos. I was also able to upgrade the die marker information for Stage A. You can view the new photos and stage information by clicking on the following link: 1972 1¢ WDDO-009 (Posted October 24, 2011)

A lot of people have been wondering why it has been so long since the last updates to this site were receorded (almost a month). Part of the reason has been problems with the host service for this website. For over a week now those problems have made it almost impossible to update the site. I have been told that the glitches are being worked on. Things are a bit better, but not what they should be just yet. At least I can make some updates to the site.

The other factor has been mother nature. While we weren’t hit as hard as some folks by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, both had a serious impact on my coin work as both flooded my basement which is where my coin office is located and where I do all of my coin work.

With Irene we lost power for a couple of hours overnight. Without the sump pump going we quickly accumulated a couple of inches of water in the basement. When power was restored it cleared out most of the water, but we were left with a layer of mud throughout the basement. Cleanup was time consuming. When Lee hit we didn’t lose power, but the volume of rain water was simply too much for the sump pump to handle and the basement flooded again. Fortunately we did not get any mud the second time, but the cleanup and drying out process was time consuming. We are still battling mold forming throughout the basement.

All of this has set me back significantly, and while the water was pouring in so were the coin packages. During a roughly two week period in which I wasn’t able to get any coin work done the attribution packages kept coming in on a daily basis. It will take quite some time to get to the more recent packages that have come in.

Of course all of this further delayed the ability to update the site. Folks have been graciously telling me to "hang in there" and that "it will get better." I sure hope so! (Posted October 20, 2011)

Collectors of 20th century dimes now have a focus point for searching their Mercury Dimes and their Roosevelt Dimes. Pages for The Best of the Mercury Dime Doubled Dies and also for The Best of the Roosevelt Dime Doubled Dies have been added to the double die listings featured on this website giving collectors an idea of where to look to find the "Best Of" the doubled dies in those series.

As collectors find more doubled dies in those series that qualify for the "Best Of" status, they will be added to the lists and hopefully they will also be illustrated on this website. (Posted September 24, 2011)

The 1972 Lincoln cent doubled die varieties continue to show up on my desk for attribution so I have just finished updating the site with the remainder of the 1972 1¢ doubled dies that are of most interest to collectors. These would be 1972 1¢ WDDO-001 through WDDO-010.

All but one of these varieties (WDDO-009) are Class I doubled dies. We have had pages illustrating WDDO-001 through WDDO-004, but now all ten of the varieties have their own page. Hopefully these pages will assist collectors with the identification of these popular varieties. (Posted September 20, 2011)

Three new stages have been reported for 2009 1¢ FY WDDR-043 bringing the total number of stages reported for this variety to seven. Two new stages have been reported for 2009 1¢ FY WDDR-057 raising the number of known stages for that variety from two to four. All of the new stages have been reported by Frank Guzman.

The primary purpose of die markers and staging information is to help collectors identify a particular variety and to distinguish one variety from the other when similar varieties exist. Most collectors of die varieties seek just a single example of each die variety, however, the 2009 Commemorative Lincoln Cent doubled die varieties have produced a small sub-culture of collectors that are trying to put together collections containing all of the known stages for all of the known 2009 Lincoln cent doubled die varieties.

It is a somewhat daunting task to assemble such a collection as the staging information for the varieties is frequently changing and those attempting to assemble a 2009 Lincoln cent doubled die collection with all of the stages need to constantly monitor the varieties for new staging information.

Also adding to the difficulty of assembling such a collection is the sheer number of coins needed. With the newly added stages for FY WDDR-043 and FY WDDR-057, a person trying to assemble a collection of all of the 2009 Lincoln cent doubled dies with all of the stages for each variety now needs at least 666 coins to complete such a collection. Of course, if more new stages are reported, that number will increase.

To view the new staging information for FY WDDR-043 and FY WDDR-057, just click on the following link: 2009 Formative Years 1¢ Reverse Doubled Dies (Posted September 16, 2011)

Thanks to Joseph Koelling we have learned that ANACS has slabbed two 2011 Lincoln cent doubled die varieties with both the Wexler File listing number and the Crawford File listing number. The slabbed varieties include 2011 1¢ WDDO-002 and 2011 1¢ WDDR-001.

Both of these varieties show exceptionally strong doubling. WDDO-002 is noted with two stages in the Wexler Doubled Die Files. Stage A was submitted by Steve Heleine while Stage B was submitted by Joseph Koelling. This variety shows especially strong doubling to the date and LIBERTY.

WDDR-001 was submitted by die variety specialist Billy G. Crawford and is the only known reverse doubled die for the Lincoln Shield Cent series. (Posted September 13, 2011)

Yesterday while doing some link updates to the Doubled Die Listings page I somehow managed to accidentally delete the link for the 2009 Lincoln cent doubled die listings. It didn't take long for the e-mails to start coming in. Sorry about that. If you are reading this, the link should be fixed and the 2009 Lincoln cent doubled die pages should again be available for viewing. It is gratifying to see that people are looking at the site and I apologize for any inconvenience. (Posted August 9, 2011)

For those attempting to put together a collection of the 2009 Lincoln 1¢ doubled dies by their stages, some revised information and a couple of new stages are now available.

Descriptions of already existing die markers were clarified for both 2009 1¢ EC WDDR-129 and for 2009 1¢ FY WDDR-019.

New stages were added to both 2009 1¢ FY WDDR-096 and 2009 1¢ FY WDDR-101 thanks to Cathy Barker. Those new stages can be reviewed in the listings for those varieties elsewhere on this website. The new stages bring the total number of coins needed to 661 for anyone trying to complete a 2009 1¢ doubled die collection that includes all of the stages. (Posted August 8, 2011)

The "Best Of" lists for the Lincoln Wheat Cent doubled dies and the Lincoln Memorial Cent doubled dies, which can be found elsewhere on this website, have been revamped and expanded.

When the lists were originally placed on this website, they were based on the doubled dies illustrated in The Authoritative Reference on Lincoln Cents - Second Edition. That reference has extensive chapters illustrating the "Best Of" the Lincoln cent doubled dies for those two reverse series. However, in the Wexler Doubled Die Files there are many more very nice Lincoln cent doubled dies that could not be featured in that book due to space limitations. The complete "Best Of" lists can now be found here and the lists will be updated as new varieties that qualify for "Best Of" status are reported and listed.

We hope that both of those lists will ultimately be transformed into books that will illustrate those varieties. To view those revamped lists just click on the following links: The Best of the Wheat Cent Doubled Dies and The Best of the Memorial Cent Doubled Dies (Posted July 16, 2011)

The fees being charged by John A. Wexler to attribute and/or examine coins is undergoing a change. Until now the fee has been $3 per coin. That fee will remain the same for coins that require an attribution for just one side of the coin. For example, if someone sends a coin because they suspect it is a DDO, then the fee remains $3 per coin.

The problems occur when coins are submitted that require an attribution for both sides of the coin. Twice as much time is needed to do the attribution if the varieties (obverse and reverse) are already listed. If the varieties are new, twice as much time is needed for the write-ups and twice as much time is needed for the photography.

For coins that require an attribution for both the obverse and the reverse the new fee is $5 per coin. This change is effective immediately, however, it does not apply to any packages that are already here, or which are already on the way here.

To view the complete attribution guidelines, just click on the Coin Examinations link in the left column menu. (Posted June 23, 2011)

The latest issue of The HUB (Volume XIII Number 2) has been mailed to members of The National Collectors Association of Die Doubling (NCADD). NCADD uses the Wexler Die Variety Files as its primary die numbering system.

NCADD President John Bordner, who does all of the RPM, OMM, and Repunched Date listing for the Wexler Files, illustrates some of the latest RPM varieties added to the Files. Mr. Bordner also illustrates a 1962 proof Franklin Half dollar that appears to show a D mint mark on the bell to the right of the word STOW. If anyone should have a specimen with this apparent D, you are asked to contact Mr. Bordner so that a study of the coin can be made to determine if it is a D mint mark.

My "Beginner's Corner" column looks at how the Repunched Date varieties were produced and numerous examples are featured. In my latest installment of the "Uncommon Cents" column, some of the latest Lincoln cent doubled die listings are featured.

Brian Ribar continues his "Under the 'Scope" series which features doubled dies found on the "Ocean In View" Jefferson nickel series.

For information on how to become a member of NCADD you can visit their website by clicking on the following link: http://NCADD98.org/ or you can contact John Bordner by e-mail at jwb209@epix.net.

Thanks to die variety specialist Billy. G. Crawford, variety collectors now have another very significant doubled die to search for. This one is a "Doubled Ear" variety on the obverse of a 1987 Lincoln cent and comes to light not long after the discovery of a 1988 "Doubled Ear" Lincoln cent by Christopher Beck.

While not as strong as the 1988 variety, it is still a respectable discovery that is bound to have collectors searching their 1987 cents a lot more closely.

A secondary image of the lower back of the ear can be found below the normal ear. It was produced by a Class IV (Offset Hub Doubling) spread to the north. I now have this one listed in my files as 1987 1¢ WDDO-004. Mr. Crawford has it listed in his popular "C" Files as 1987 1¢ CDDO-005.

The variety will be permanently illustrated in The Best of the Memorial Cent Doubled Dies section of this website. To access the page on this variety for complete die marker illustrations, just click on the following link: 1987 1¢ WDDO-004 (Posted June 16, 2011)

This photo is courtesy of Billy G. Crawford and shows the secondary image below the normal ear.

This overlay, also courtesy of Billy G. Crawford, shows a normal ear superimposed over the secondary image and shows that it is a perfect match.

Vacation is over and it is back to the old grind. It was a refreshing break. Check out the three new 2005-P Minnesota State Quarter doubled die varieties on the New Listings page. Stay tuned. There is plenty more to come!

Die variety specialist Billy G. Crawford is pleased to announce that Die Variety News (DVN) magazine June 2011 issue #25 is now online and available for viewing at your leisure.

This special "5th Anniversary" issue starts off highlighting a recently discovered major doubled ear found on a 1988 Lincoln cent! There are many articles featuring an "Extra Steps" variety; a bizarre "Inverted Arches" DDR; a beautiful die clash mint error, and there are more "extra column" type varieties with three recent new listings to illustrate.

Jason Cuvelier continues his series of articles this time on Class IV offset hub doubling with detailed information and plenty of illustrations.

The "Recently Submitted" new listings section continues to expand showcasing the many varieties that have crossed the editor's desk since publication of issue #24.

To view this issue just click on the following link: http://www.dvnmagazine.com/ (Posted June 5, 2011)

A Lincoln Memorial cant doubled die reverse that we had listed as 1998 1¢ WDDR-014 has been re-evaluated for the Wexler Doubled Die Files. The original specimen, submitted by Robert J. Piazza, showed several lines running at an angle through the lower statue of Lincoln.

When originally listing the variety we viewed these lines as coming from a nearly horizontal Memorial column. However, a second specimen of the variety was submitted by Joseph Koelling to die variety specialist Billy G. Crawford and it showed even more lines than the first. Mr. Crawford did an overlay that provides convincing evidence that the extra lines were actually from the Memorial steps and not from a nearly horizontal Memorial column.

This photo courtesy of Billy G. Crawford shows the lines running through the lower statue of Lincoln on the doubled die we have listed as 1998 1¢ WDDR-014.

This overlay from Billy G. Crawford shows that the steps of the Memorial are a perfect match for the lines running through the lower statue.

This fascinating variety is now listed among The Best of the Memorial Cent Doubled Dies elsewhere on this website. To view the complete listing just click on the following link: 1998 1¢ WDDR-014

This variety is listed as CDDR-020 in Billy G. Crawford's "C" Files. It is also listed as 1998P-1DR-009 on the Coppercoins website. (Posted June 1, 2011)

My wife and I will be away on vacation from June 6 through June 12. Any packages of coins sent for attribution that arrive during that time period will be held at the post office until I can pick them up on June 13. Any e-mails sent during that period of time will not be answered until June 13 or later depending on the complexity of the e-mail responses that will be required. (Posted May 31, 2011)

Several more recently reported doubled die varieties have come back to their owners from ANACS slabbed as "Discovery Piece" items and/or with the appropriate Wexler File and Crawford File numbers.

Joseph Koelling recently submitted a newly discovered Stage G to the reverse die that was paired with 1972 1¢ WDDO-004. The obverse die is an extremely rare doubled die variety and the various stages of the reverse die without the obverse doubled die support the rarity of the DDO.

The discovery piece of Stage G for the reverse die that was paired with 1972 1¢ WDDO-004 came back with a grade of AU55.

Die variety specialist Billy G. Crawford received three varieties back from ANACS with two of them identified with the coveted "Discovery Piece" designation. The two designated as "Discovery Piece" coins were the 1990 1¢ WDDR-007 (CDDR-002) which shows a strongly doubled Memorial floor, and 2000 1¢ WDDO-020 (CDDR-017) which shows the image of an inverted statue of Lincoln in the lower 6th Memorial bay.

Mr. Crawford also submitted a specimen of 1983-D 1¢ WDDO-002 to ANACS which shows a very strongly doubled earlobe. That variety came back with a grade of MS64RB.

All of the above doubled die varieties are fully illustrated on their own pages in The Best of the Lincoln Memorial Cent Doubled Dies section of this website. (Posted May 24, 2011)

Thanks to Cathy Barker, Marilyn Keeney, and James A. Porter, several new stages have been reported for various 2009 Lincoln cent doubled die varieties. New staging information has been added for the following 2009 P-Mint Early Childhood varieties: 2009 1¢ EC WDDO-002, WDDR-017, WDDR-026, WDDR-031, WDDR-049, WDDR-055, WDDR-057, WDDR-075, WDDR-102, and WDDR-106.

New staging information has been added for the following 2009 D-Mint Early Childhood varieties: 2009-D 1¢ EC WDDR-010 and WDDR-017.

New staging information has been added for the following 2009-P Formative Years varieties: 2009 1¢ FY WDDR-018, WDDR-022, WDDR-031, WDDR-039, WDDR-069, WDDR-082, and WDDR-096. Detailed information on all of the new stages can be obtained on the respective pages of this website that deal with the 2009 Lincoln cent doubled die varieties.

These new stages bring to 648 the number of 2009 Lincoln cents that would be needed to complete a collection of all of the 2009 Lincoln cent doubled die varieties that would also include all of the known stages. At just $5 per coin, an individual trying to assemble such a collection would need to invest $3,240. The number of stages is sure to rise as there is no indication that new reports will soon cease.

Anyone trying to assemble a collection that includes all of the stages needs to be very diligent so that coins in the collection are kept up to date with the accurate staging information. Dealers also need to be extremely diligent so that they are not selling these varieties with inaccurate staging information. Each report of new stages increases the likelihood that coins are being sold on the market that do have incorrect staging information. (Posted May 18, 2011)

Thanks to Jon Savard, we now have our first listing for a Kansas State Quarter doubled die in the Wexler Die Variety Files. The doubled die is on the obverse of a Denver Mint quarter and show the typical doubling on the underside of Washington's earlobe.

The variety is listed as 2005-D 25¢ KS WDDO-001. It will be permanently illustrated in the section of this website that is devoted to all of the State Quarter doubled die listings in the Wexler Files. To view the complete details for this variety, just click on the following link: Kansas (Posted May 16, 2011)

A 1992 Lincoln cent with the Transitional Reverse Design (reverse design of 1993) has reportedly been sold on Ebay for the amazing sum of $12,500. The cent was listed as Item number 350454532767 and was slabbed by NGC with an MS62 RED CAM grading.

To date just a single die is known to have the Transitional Reverse Design making it extremely rare. We are still seeking a specimen of this variety so that we can add the appropriate diagnostics for the variety to this website. (Posted May 10, 2011)

Die variety specialist Billy G. Crawford has announced the discovery a major new Lincoln cent obverse doubled die by Christopher Beck of Florida. The new doubled die is on the obverse of a 1988 P-Mint Lincoln cent and shows a very strongly doubled lower ear similar to that seen on the famous 1984 Lincoln cent obverse doubled die listed as Die #1 (WDDO-001).

Beck's discovery shows a strong Class IV spread to the north. Beck has allowed Mr. Crawford to send the variety to the other major doubled die attributers (myself included) so that they can shoot their own photos for their respective files. I have listed it in the Wexler Doubled Die Files as 1988 1¢ WDDO-009. Mr. Crawford lists it in his popular "C" Registry Files as 1988 1¢ CDDO-008 and has provided the photos to illustrate the variety until it arrives here and we can shoot our own photos.

This image provided by die variety specialist Billy G. Crawford shows the strong doubling to the lower ear that is found on 1988 1¢ CDDO-008 (WDDR-009).

This overlay from Mr. Crawford shows how the lower ear from a 1988 Lincoln cent is a perfect match or the doubled image seen in the previous photo.

The doubling on this remarkable new variety can be seen withy the naked eye once you know what to look for. As news of this amazing discovery spreads, it is sure to set off a strong search for additional specimens. One has to wonder how such a strong doubled die variety could remain undetected for all of these years.

To view the information from die variety specialist Billy G. Crawford at his Die Variety News website, just click on the following link: http://www.dvnmagazine.com/news.html. You may want to check back there often for additional details from Mr. Crawford. Once we have the opportunity to shoot our own photos, it will be illustrated among The Best of the Memorial Cent Doubled Dies on this website. (Posted May 9, 2011)