1909-S VDDR VDDR-003

Description

Only 309,000 Lincoln Wheat Cents left the San Francisco Mint in 1909 bearing the S mintmark — the famous key date that anchors the entire Lincoln Cent series. VDDR-003 documents light spread on TE of UNITED, F of OF, TA of STATES, and M of AMERICA, a subtle but catalogable reversed doubled die attributed by VarietyVista. Die staging across three states reveals progressive deterioration: Stage A shows light North-South die scratches East of T of CENT in Early Die State, with a short die gouge under T of LIBERTY appearing at Early-to-Mid Die State. Stage B and Stage C remain unconfirmed at Mid and Late Die States respectively, awaiting specimen examination. Die markers UVC-???? and DMR-0?? carry placeholder codes pending further research. The reverse die is identified as RDV-004 (deep cut N, no V.D.B.) or alternatively RDV-003 (shallow cut N, no V.D.B.), both representing reverse die variants produced after Victor David Brenner's initials were removed following public controversy during the first weeks of 1909 production. The absence of the V.D.B. initials narrows this variety to the later 1909-S production run, and its combination with doubled die reverse characteristics makes VDDR-003 a significant attribution within one of numismatics' most scrutinized dates.

Die Markers

• UVC-????
• DMR-0??
• Stage A:
• Light North-South die scratches East of T of CENT – EDS
• Short die gouge under T of LIBERTY – EMDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Blaine Neupert
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References