1909 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-021

Description

Struck in the inaugural year of Victor David Brenner's Lincoln cent design, the 1909 WDDR-021 displays moderate extra thickness spread towards the center on the letters of E PLURIBUS UNUM, the dots, both wheat ears, and both wheat stems. This doubled die reverse captures a hub misalignment on the very first Lincoln Wheat cent issue, making it historically notable among the series' earliest documented die varieties. The obverse carries a short die scratch running south from the bottom left of the U in TRUST as its primary pickup point. On the reverse, a die scratch runs north from the bottom inside of the C in CENT, and a small die gouge appears to the right of the second A in AMERICA. Cataloged under the Wexler designation 1909 WDDR-021, this variety rewards careful examination of the wheat ear stems and EPU lettering, where the moderate spread is most readily visible under low magnification. The 1909 Lincoln cent replaced the long-running Indian Head design and introduced a portrait of a real historical figure to circulating American coinage for the first time, lending additional collector interest to die varieties from this pivotal transition year.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Marvin L. Young Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1909 1¢ WDDR-021
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References