1937 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-004

Description

Medium spread on GOD WE TRUST and the digits 937 of the date, accompanied by medium extra thickness on all lettering and the complete date, marks this 1937 Lincoln wheat cent as DDO-004 in the VarietyVista catalog. The unique variety code UVC-1373 and die markers reference DMR-007 track the die through a three-stage progression. Stage A at early die state remains unconfirmed, as does Stage B at mid-die-state, while Stage C documents both the obverse and reverse reaching late die state -- the final phase before die replacement, when accumulated wear, die cracks, and loss of detail typically render the die unfit for continued service. The medium extra thickness on all lettering is a significant diagnostic: rather than producing a clearly separated doubled image with visible separation between primary and secondary impressions, this type of doubling adds noticeable width to each letter stroke and numeral, creating characters that appear bolder and heavier than normal. Philadelphia struck 309.2 million wheat cents in 1937, the same year that brought the final Buffalo nickel and saw the introduction of several WPA-era commemorative coins. Victor David Brenner's Lincoln obverse had been in production for nearly three decades by 1937, and the wheat ears reverse was similarly well established. DDO-004 designation indicates this is the fourth doubled die obverse cataloged for the date, placing it within a small but meaningful census of hub doubling events documented for Depression-era cent dies. Collectors examining potential specimens should focus on the 937 date digits where the medium spread is most pronounced, using 10x or greater magnification to confirm the doubled profile on each numeral.

Die Markers

• UVC-1373
• DMR-007
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Obverse and Reverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References