1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Reverse VDDR-050

Description

Light spread on TE of UNITED, F of OF, TA of STATES, and M of AMERICA identifies this fiftieth documented doubled die reverse for the inaugural 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent, attributed by VarietyVista. The 1909 date is among the most significant in American numismatics — it marked the introduction of Victor David Brenner's Lincoln Cent design, the first circulating U.S. coin to feature a real historical figure rather than an allegorical representation. This variety uses the RDV-004 reverse (deep cut N, no V.D.B. initials) or possibly RDV-003 (shallow cut N, no V.D.B.), with the reverse design variant distinction referring to differences in the master hub used for the reverse die. The removal of Brenner's initials partway through 1909 production created the famous VDB/no-VDB distinction that has driven collector interest for over a century. Die markers remain partially unconfirmed (UVC-???? and DMR-0??), indicating ongoing research to fully catalog this variety's diagnostics. Three die states are tracked: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B showing the reverse at early-to-mid die state with a die crack from shoulder to rim, and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). The fifty doubled die reverses documented for the 1909 Lincoln Cent reflect the extraordinary collector and researcher attention this key date receives. The die crack from shoulder to rim in Stage B provides a concrete attribution marker for mid-die-state specimens.

Die Markers

• UVC-????
• DMR-0??
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Reverse is EMDS
• Die crack shoulder to rim – EMDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

External References