1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Reverse VDDR-055

Description

Struck during the inaugural year of Victor David Brenner's iconic Lincoln Cent design, this 1909 doubled die reverse preserves light spread visible on TE of UNITED, the F of OF, TA of STATES, and M of AMERICA. The reverse die exists in at least three documented stages: Stage A in Early Die State remains unconfirmed, Stage B developed a die crack from the upper right wheat grains to the rim along with a second crack from the shoulder to the rim in Late Mid-Die State, and Stage C in Late Die State is also unconfirmed. The reverse die variety is identified as RDV-004 with a deep cut N and no V.D.B. designer's initials, or alternatively RDV-003 with a shallow cut N and no V.D.B. The absence of Brenner's initials on the reverse places this coin among the vast majority of 1909 Lincoln Cents produced after the initials were removed partway through the first year of production following public controversy over their prominent placement. As the fifty-fifth cataloged DDR for the debut year of America's longest-running cent design, VDDR-055 connects variety collecting to a pivotal moment in United States coinage history.

Die Markers

• UVC-????
• DMR-0??
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die crack from upper Right wheat
• grains to rim – LMDS
• Die crack shoulder to rim – LMDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

External References