1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Reverse VDDR-052

Description

Documented by VarietyVista with die stage markers (UVC and DMR numbers pending final assignment), this 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent VDDR-052 exhibits light spread on TE of UNITED, F of OF, TA of STATES, and M of AMERICA — scattered partial-word doubling across the reverse inscriptions that reveals the specific geometry of the hub displacement vector relative to each letter's position and orientation on the die face. Three die stages are documented: Stage A at early die state (EDS, unconfirmed), Stage B at early-to-mid die state featuring a die crack from the left wheat lines to the rim, a die crack from the shoulder to the rim, and a die clash at the throat and in front of the date, and Stage C at late die state (LDS, unconfirmed). The reverse die is identified as RDV-004 (Deep cut N, no V.D.B.) or RDV-003 (Shallow cut N, no V.D.B.), indicating the reverse design variant lacks Victor David Brenner's initials — the famous VDB that appeared on the earliest 1909 cents before being removed due to public controversy and later restored in 1918 in smaller size on Lincoln's shoulder. The commentary notes this is the same obverse as VDDR-042 but in a slightly earlier die state with a different reverse, establishing a die-sharing relationship between the two catalog entries. The 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent was the inaugural year of Brenner's iconic design, struck in 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc at 3.11 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. The first-year status of 1909 Lincoln cents makes their varieties particularly significant to collectors, and the Stage B die clash "at the throat and in front of date" adds visual interest beyond the reverse doubling itself.

Die Markers

• UVC-????
• DMR-0??
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die crack from Left wheat lines to rim – EMDS
• Die crack shoulder to rim – EMDS
• Die clash at throat and in front of date
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

External References