1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Reverse VDDR-061

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista with provisional die markers UVC-???? and DMR-0?? (indicating incomplete documentation), VDDR-061 on the 1909 Lincoln Wheat cent exhibits light spread on TE of UNITED, the F of OF, TA of STATES, and the M of AMERICA. Three die stages have been partially documented: Stage A represents early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B shows the reverse in early-mid die state (EMDS) with a light die crack extending from the head to the rim through the E of WE and another light crack running from the back of the bust to the rim, and Stage C marks late die state (also unconfirmed). A particularly significant attribution detail involves the reverse die variety: this die is identified as RDV-004 (deep cut N, no V.D.B.) or potentially RDV-003 (shallow cut N, no V.D.B.), placing it among the non-VDB reverse dies used for the 1909 Lincoln cent. The 1909 Lincoln cent holds foundational importance as the first year of Victor David Brenner's design, and the distinction between VDB and non-VDB reverse dies is one of the most consequential in the entire Lincoln cent series. Doubled die reverse varieties on the inaugural 1909 date carry additional collector interest because of the year's historical significance as the centennial of Lincoln's birth, which prompted the unprecedented decision to place a real person's portrait on a regular-issue United States coin.

Die Markers

• UVC-????
• DMR-0??
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Reverse is EMDS
• Light die crack from head to rim through E of WE – EMDS
• Light die crack from back of bust to rim
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

External References