1937-D Doubled Die Reverse DDR-001

Description

Documented by VarietyVista with die markers UVC-0055 and DMR-003, the 1937-D Lincoln Wheat Cent DDR-001 exhibits medium extra thickness on E PLURIBUS UNUM and the upper wheat ears on the reverse. This variety is notably paired with an obverse die listed as RPM-001, creating a combination variety where both sides carry distinct die varieties — the reverse showing doubled die characteristics while the obverse displays a repunched mintmark. Three die stages are tracked: Stage A (Early Die State) shows a strong secondary mintmark with a die gouge under the middle of the bust; Stage B (Mid Die State) presents a medium secondary mintmark; Stage C (Late Die State) shows the die gouge under the bust absent and a weak secondary mintmark, illustrating the progressive die deterioration that gradually softened both the RPM and the gouge over the die's service life. The 1937-D was struck at the Denver Mint during the Great Depression, when mintages had begun recovering from their early-1930s lows. At 3.11 grams of 95% copper composition with a 19.0 mm diameter, Victor David Brenner's wheat ear reverse provides the inscription and design elements where the medium DDR thickness concentrates. The dual-variety nature of this die pair — DDR-001 reverse combined with RPM-001 obverse — makes it particularly desirable to collectors who specialize in combination varieties where multiple minting anomalies occurred on a single coin. Examination should address both the reverse wheat ear doubling and the obverse mintmark repunching for complete attribution.

Die Markers

• UVC-0055
• DMR-003
• Stage A:
• Reverse is EDS
• Obverse is LISTED as RPM-001 – EDS
• Strong secondary mintmark
• Die gouge under middle of bust
• Stage B:
• Reverse is MDS
• Medium secondary mintmark – MDS
• Stage C:
• Reverse is LDS
• Die gouge under bust is absent – LDS
• Weak secondary mintmark

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References